









































































































































































HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 

FROM THE FIRST INVASION BY JULIUS CLESAR, 

. TO THE ACCESSION OF VICTORIA. 

IN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVEN: 


COMPRISING EVERY POLITICAL EVENT WORTHY OF REMEMBRANCE : 

A PROGRESSIVE VIEW 


Of Religion. Language, and Manners ; of Men eminent for their Virtue or their Learning 
their Patriotism, Eloquence, or Philosophical Research; of the Introduction 
of Manufactures, and of Colonial Establishments. 


ACCOMPANIED BY 

A BOOK OF QUESTIONS AND A KEY, FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS 

BY WILLIAM GRIMSHAW, 

AUTHOR OF A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, ETC. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED BY GRIGG & ELLIOT, 


No. 9 NORTH FOURTH STREET. 
1 345. 






















Instructors of youth are respectfully informed, that stereotype edi¬ 
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expressly for the use of academies and schools in the United States, con¬ 
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History of France. History of South America. 

Life of Napoleon. History of the United States. 

Each in one volume, accompanied by a book of Questions and a Key, 
on a plan which affords unusual facilities, both to the teacher and the 
student. 

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The demand for Grimshaw's Histories, for the last thiity years, 
has been greater than was ever known, for any other historical works, in 
any age, or in any language. 


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\ THE LIBRARY 

' OF CONGRESS 

— 

WASHINGTON 


Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by 
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Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



PRINTED BY T. K. AND P. G. COLLINS. 















PREFACE. 


r 

THE opinion of those gentlemen who examined the 
manuscript of my revised edition of Goldsmith’s Roman 
History, having been confirmed by its very favourable re¬ 
ception when published, I have complied with their wishes 
in a further undertaking. They advised, that I should 
either correct and free from its impurities the History of 
England, by the same author, or compose one, in accord¬ 
ance with the present taste. 

To the former task, I was most inclined; for two reasons— 
the popular attachment to a long established work, with¬ 
out reference to its author; and the universal celebrity of 
Goldsmith, from the greatness of his genius. To super¬ 
sede a favourite book, is to deprive the public of a venerated 
acquaintance : to enter the lists against a favourite name, is 
to combat, the powerful bias of education, and the natural 

infirmity of man. 

* 

Having therefore intended the revisal of Goldsmith’s 
History of England for the use of schools, I commenced a 
critical examination of its contents. Had it been no fur¬ 
ther defective than his History of Rome, the attempt might 
have been accomplished, with satisfaction to myself, and 
advantage to the public. But objections accumulated in 
my progress. To the faults attending all the historical 
compositions of Goldsmith, owing to confusion, indelicacy, 
and grammatical inaccuracy, there was added another ob¬ 
stacle; most momentous indeed, and insurmountable—the 
absence of material events. His Roman History, I con¬ 
ceived, was sufficiently comprehensive. From what cause, 
then, proceeded this unexpected vacuity ?—The account 
of his writings gave me satisfactory explanation. I there 
found, what I had indeed suspected, but what is little 
known—that his History of England was not abridged by 
the Doctor himself; but that public credulity has been made 
tli2 instrument of an egregious fraud: a fraud, equally in 
jurious to the memory of a much respected individual, and 
the importar.-: purposes of useful education. x 

The design of revising Goldsmith’s history was, in con 
sequence, abandoned, and this original work written in its 
place 



PREFACE. 


\f 

Few writers have excelled Goldsmith, in readiness of 
wit, in elegance, in facility of composition. Few have ex¬ 
perienced more trials ol distress; the efiects ol unbounded 
generosity, or of unguarded simplicity. a Whilst he was 
composing the comedy ol the ‘ Good Natured Man, and 
preparing to take a more successful flight in his fine poem 
of the ‘ Deserted Village,’ he wrote, for present support, at 
the instance of the booksellers, a series of histories, which 
lie never considered as conducive to his lame. 1 hese 
were, his Roman History, in two volumes, an Abridgment 
of the same, and his History of England; which are of¬ 
ten superficial and inaccurate.”—So, says his biographer. 
Thus, whilst he poured forth, with unexampled rapidity, 
those imperfect productions ol the hand , his mind labour¬ 
ed, with unwearied assiduity, in acquiring for the name ol 
Goldsmith a posthumous renown; and the effort was ac¬ 
complished. That name will long be cherished:—after the 
graven marble, the friendly tribute to departed genius, has, 
for ages, crumbled into dust, the monument which he him¬ 
self had raised, will still remain, uninjured and admired. 

In forming a work of this kind, there are chiefly three 
objects to be kept in view—a judicious selection of im¬ 
portant. events, a moderate interspersion of amusement, 
and occasional reflections, which may guard the reader 
against the imitation ol' vice, or inculcate the love of virtue. 
The narrative should not be exhausted on the infidelity of 
a queen, or the erection of a scaffold; upon the protracted 
siege, or the countermarching of an army: entertainment 
should be free from ribaldry, and praise should be withheld 
from the commission of enormity. When we have weari¬ 
ed the reader with the minute recital of a fictitious plot, 
we should look back, lest we have omitted the Fire of Lon¬ 
don:* we should consider, that a story may be humorous 
yet offensive, and avoid recommending intrigues and virtues 
as joint recommendations to a throne.f 

A book designed for elementary instruction, should in¬ 
culcate no doctrines foreign to the relations of the reader. 
Principles, favourable to the support of a constitutional 
monarchy, though they may be very excusable in England, 
should not be instilled into the youth of the United States 
Such expressions as “ our most gracious majesty,” and 
u we, his most loving subjects,” are totally absurd, and 

♦Reign of Charles II. in Goldsmith's Abridged Ilistorv 

{-Harold, in the same 


PREFACE. 


v 


oordei too much on the ridiculous, when uttered by the 
children of a republic. 

As regards the selection of matter, I presume, tha^ a 
larger portion of this, than of any similar work, is devoted 
to those incidents, and those characters, in the peaceful 
walks’of society, which are the legitimate subjects of his 
tory, show the genius and manners of the age, the laws and 
administration of government, the achievements of science, 
the progress of arts and manufactures, the extension of 
commerce, the downfall of superstition, the triumphs of 
the spirit of religious liberty,—and form the brightest, 
noblest features, of a nation. 

The history, from which some impudent scribbler has 
compiled the duodecimo volume of England, does not dis¬ 
play a serious disproportion in its principal and subordi¬ 
nate parts; in its political events, and mere matter of amuse 
ment. But, unfortunately, the abridging has destroyed the 
equilibrium. Those hasty sallies of the Doctor, and those 
flashy antitheses, which were intended only as an agreeable 
seasoning , are given with so extravagant a hand, that the 
banquet is completely spoiled. The lights, which, before, 
were judiciously arranged, and enlivened the entertainment, 
are now collected in a body, and blaze is substituted for 
utility. Those distorted sentences, which may justly be 
styled literary economy, or metaphor burlesqued, and 
which, when diffused, were less easily perceived, might 
have been advantageously repressed; or, when introduced, 
should have been expanded, or explained. 

Other defects of this inconsiderate reduction, are most 
glaringly perceptible. The transitions are not unfrequent!y 
made without the smallest regard to the relation which pre¬ 
ceded : passages are referred to, which are no where to be 
found, except in the larger work; and, persons are abruptly 
and unexpectedly presented, in the usual manner of fami 
liar acquaintance. 

Every language has acquired a colloquial idiom. Per 
haps not any is more corrupted by it than our own. No 
6tyle gives a greater facility to a writer; none is better 
adapted to a familiar correspondence; but there is none 
which presents more difficulty to a foreigner, or should be 
more carefully avoided by the historian. 1 he.rapidity with 
which Goldsmith compiled, for pecuniary emolument, has, 
naturally, caused the admission of the most vulgar of those 
expressions. These are, in the highest degree, injurious 
to the reader; for, he will in general acquire the very 
A 2 





VI 


PREFACE. 

phrases, and the very manner, of his author. As I have 
early been aware of this fault, so I have, in the present, 
and in my former work, endeavoured to avoid it. 1 o a 
young writer, the task is difficult; in its accomplishment 
even the most experienced is not always successful. 

On the subject of indelicacy, some remarks can, advan¬ 
tageously, be made. What I shall advance may not be 
universally agreeable; for, though all should admit their 
justness, a few may feel offended, because convicted by their 
truth. As to the opinion of the latter, I am totally regard¬ 
less: their censure or their praise is equally unavailing. 

Whilst we acknowledge the difficulty under which the 
Historian labours, of avoiding offensive language, we must 
also confess, that some writers employ more than is de¬ 
manded by the subject: but, we must admit, that many 
terms, which are not only harmless, but elegant and essen¬ 
tial, are rendered disagreeable, by habitual, and improper 
association—by the use, which, behind-backs , is immorally 
made of words, that, if restored to their proper destina¬ 
tion, Delicacy herself need not be ashamed to utter. Plow 
surprising to a teacher, how distressing to a parent, when 
language is thus interpreted by the reader—perhaps a fe¬ 
male, who stammers without a blush; and, whilst she seeks 
to impress the idea of modesty and refinement, only be¬ 
trays the conversation of her retirement. 

If these verbal contaminations be suffered to proceed, 
our whole stock, in the course of time, will be corrupted; 
and the Latin , or some other foreign language, must, again, 
be used, upon elevated subjects: or, there must be erected 
a national institution, to replace, with proportionate Indus 
try, those words which have been perverted from their 
original import. 

No expressions have been admitted here, tending, in the 
smallest degree, to injure the taste of the reader by their 
vulgarity, or to wound the feelings of youth by their indeli¬ 
cacy: no sentiments to rouse the demon of religious intol¬ 
erance, or to inflame the rancour of political animosity 
Without rising to the language of affectation, a writer may 
be elegant: without sinking to the monosyllables of the 
nursery, he may be perspicuous; he may inculcate pictv 
without cant, and patriotism withoi t extravagance 


Philadelphia, Feb. 15, 1819. 


THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


CHAPTER I. 

THE HOMANS. 

The invasions by Julius Cxsar; with a description of the Manner a, 
and civil and religious State, of the ancient Inhabitants. 

PROTECTED by her insular situation, Britain long re¬ 
mained unnoticed by the Romans, and undisturbed by the 
effects of their insatiable ambition. When, however, the 
successful enterprises of Julius Csesar, had extended their 
dominion over all the provinces of Gaul, the ardent desire of 
further glory led that celebrated commander to her shores. 

At this period, our history commences. All previous 
accounts are either the extravagant inventions of the Greek 
and Roman merchants, or the poetical fictions of the do¬ 
mestic bards. 

j 2 n [ e Caesar, with some veteran troops, sailed about 
midnight from the coast of Gaul, and, on the ensu- 

* * ing morning, landed near Deal. But his visit was 

very short. After several battles with the unoffend¬ 
ing natives, which induced a few of their sovereigns to feign 
submission, the non-arrival of his cavalry, and approach of 
winter, constrained him to return. 

The Britains had promised hostages for their future 
obedience. Relieved, however, from their alarm, they ne¬ 
glected the performance of their stipulations r for which 
breach of treaty, the haughty Roman determined to chas¬ 
tise them, in the following summer. Accordingly, he came 
over with a greater force; and, though he found a more 
regular resistance, the inhabitants having united under 
Cassivelaunus, one of their petty chieftains, he defeated 
them in every action. He then advanced into the country, 
passed the Thames, in the face of his enemy, and burned 





HISTORY OF ENGLAiND. 


8 

the capital of the British commander. Fresh submissions 
being procured, he again withdrew into Gaul; leaving an 
authority which was more nominal than real. 

From the writings of Julius Caesar, and other Roman 
authors, we discern the manners, customs, and mode of 
warfare, of the Britains, at the time of the first invasion; 
and, from the same authorities, we are informed of their 
origin. These accounts represent them as a tribe of the 
Gauls or Celtae, who had passed over from the neighbour¬ 
ing continent. The language of the one was the same as 
that spoken by the other. But the little refinement in arts, 
which the inhabitants of those provinces of Gaul, border¬ 
ing on Italy, possessed, had, as yet, made small progress 
amongst the Britains. In the south-east parts, however, 
before the time of Csesar, they had made some advances 
towards civilization; and, by the practice of agriculture, 
were there enabled to live in closely inhabited districts. 
The other natives of the island still maintained themselves 
by pasture. They were partially clothed in skins: the 
uncovered parts of their bodies were painted, so as to ex¬ 
cite terror in their enemies; and, like all other people in 
primeval rudeness, they shifted their habitations as ne¬ 
cessity demanded. Had we not the respectable testimony 
of Caesar, we should be inclined to doubt the correctness 
of history, in regard to their means of military annoyance. 
That perspicuous author gives a particular account of 
chariots, used by the Britains, with surprising address, in 
Dattle. These, they impetuously drove against the enemy’s 
ranks; and, sometimes alighting from their powerful ma¬ 
chines, the warriors fought as infantry, on foot. 

All the Britains were divided into small tribes, or na¬ 
tions; and, though their governments were monarchal, yet 
the people were free. They Jfcid early acquired a relish for 
liberty, the common birthriglreof mankind; and of which 
they can be deprived, only by their intestine feuds, or their 
culpable supineness. Their religion formed the mainspring 
of their government; and the Druids, who were their 
priests, maintained over them very powerful influence. 
Besides directing all religious duties, they superintended 
the education of youth: they possessed both the civil and 
the criminal jurisdiction; and inflicted upon all who re¬ 
fused to submit to their decrees, penalties so severe, that 
death itself became an acceptable relief. They practised 
their rites in dark and sequestered groves; and, to invest 
them in mysterious obscurity, forbade the committing of 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


9 


their ceremonies to writing. No idolatrous worship ever 
attained so great influence over the human mind, as lha* 
which was inculcated by the Druids; so that, the Romans, 
though they had not before resorted to such a measure, 
finding it impossible to establish their institutions, where 
it held its authority, at last abolished the practice of the 
Druklical mysteries. We cannot,however, even in this case, 
approve of their interference; for, though we may with im¬ 
punity persuade, we have no power given us to justify com¬ 
pulsion. Yet, it is scarcely fair, to judge the actions of a 
Heathen, by the enlightened doctrines of Christianity 


CHAPTER II. 

From the departure of Julius Cxsar , to the final withdrawing 

of the Romans. 

THE civil wars which ensued amongst the Romans, 
saved the Britains from the yoke which was ready to be 
imposed upon them. Augustus, the succes* or of Julius 
Caesar, was contented with the victory which he had gained 
over the liberties of his own country; and, fearing that the 
continued extension of dominion, which had subverted the 
republic, might have a similar effect upon the imperial 
government, recommended that the territory of Rome 
should never be enlarged. 

n They had, therefore, for nearly a century, remain- 
' ed unmolested. But the Romans, under Claudius, 
4o ‘ began seriously to contemplate their subjection. 
Accordingly, they sent over an army with Plautius, an able 
general; who, in the south-east parts, made considerable 
progress in conquering this%ioffensivc people. Soon after, 
the emperor himself arrived; and, in those districts, re¬ 
ceived the submission of several petty states. The other 
Britains, headed by Caractacus, maintained an obstinate re¬ 
sistance; and, against them, the Romans gained little advan¬ 
tage, until Ostorius Scapula was sent over to command their 
armies. This general was more successful. He pierced into 
the country of the Silures; a warlike nation who inhabited 
the banks of the Severn; defeated Caractacus, took him 
prisoner, and sent him to Rome; where the magnanimous 
behaviour of this valiant chief, procured him better treat¬ 
ment than was generally experienced by captive princes 
B 




10 


Hid TORY OF ENGLAND. 


His countrymen, however, were not yet subdued; and 
the Romans regarded them as a people, from whom mili 
taiy glory might still be gained. In the reign of Nero, the 
command was given to Paulinus Suetonius; who prepared 
to distinguish himself, by victories over these rude and un¬ 
disciplined forces. lie should have known, that those 
laurels, which are gathered within the trenches of a barba¬ 
rian, are unworthy of the hero. With the expiring shout 
of the giddy multitude, they drop from the victor’s brow, 
withered and forgotten. 

Finding that the island of Mona, now Anglesea, was the 
chief retreat of the Druids, he resolved to subject that 
place; the centre of their superstition, and the usual re¬ 
treat of the baffled forces. On this sacred ground, the 
Britains endeavoured to prevent his landing, by every 
means which they could devise. The women and the 
priests intermingled with the soldiers; and, running about 
with flaming torches in their hands, tossing their dishevel¬ 
ed hair, and pouring forth their howlings and lamenta¬ 
tions, caused more terror than the real dangers from the 
army. But Suetonius, by his address, impelled the Romans 
to the attack. He drove the Britains off* the field; burned 
the Druids in the fires which they had prepared for their 
captive enemies; and, having thus triumphed over their 
religion, thought that his future progress would be easy. 

But, in this, he was disappointed. The Britains, headed 
by Boadicea, cpieen of the Iceni,.a princess who had been 
ignominiously treated by the Roman tribunes, attacked, 
with success, many settlements of the insulting conquerors. 
Suetonius hastened to the protection of London; then, a 
flourishing Roman colony; but which, in order to consult 
the general safety, he Was obliged to abandon. It was re¬ 
duced to ashes; and all who were found there, were, 
through retaliation, massacred, by the Britains. But this 
cruelty was revenged by the Roman general, in a great and 
decisive battle; and Boadicea, rather than fall into the 
hands of the enraged victor, ended her life by poison. 

Suetonius, not long after, was recalled from the govern¬ 
ment of a people, whose natural temper, irritated by their 
sufferings, he appeared so lrttle calculated to soften or ap¬ 
pease, • 

The general that eventually established the Roman pow- 
e" in Britain, was Agricola; who governed it in the reigns 
ot Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. He conquered all the 
southern parts; carried his victorious arms into the forests 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


11 


and mountains of Caledonia, which is now called Scotland; 
driving before him all the fierce and intractable portion of 
the inhabitants, who preferred any deprivation to a state of 
servitude. He then ordered his fleet to sail along the coast 
(by which voyage the Romans first ascertained that 
* Britain was an island,) and formed between the friths 
of Forth and Clyde, a rampart and a chain of garrisons; 
which secured the Roman provinces from their incursions.* 
During these military employments, Agricola was not in¬ 
attentive to the arts of peace. He introduced amongst the 
Britains laws and civility; gave them a taste for the pur¬ 
suits of agriculture; instructed them in letters and science; 
used every means to reconcile them to subjection; and 
gradually incorporated them with the empire. 

The Britains gave no further inquietude; but the Cale¬ 
donians, defended by their barren mountains, which se¬ 
cured them a retreat, made frequent incursions upon the 
cultivated lands. The better to protect the frontiers, 
Adrian, who visited the island, built a strong rampart be¬ 
tween the river Tyne and the frith of Solway; a defence 
afterwards strengthened by a wall; traces of which remain 
at the present day. This was erected by Severus; who. 
after repelling the invaders, died at York: from which time, 
sc profound a tranquillity prevailed in Britain, during all 
the emperors’ reigns, that little mention is made of it by 
any historian. 

But, that stupendous fabric, which had extended its con¬ 
quests over so great a portion of the globe, began, at length, 
to approach its dissolution. Those barbarous nations of 
the continent, who had long been under the government of 
the Romans, had, whilst in the service of their conquerors, 
added discipline to their native bravery; and, allured by 
the prospect of so great a prize, they assailed, at once, the 
frontiers of the empire. The Romans were now obliged 
to concentrate their domestic legions, in which, only, they 
could place reliance; and collected their whole military 
force for the preservation of the capital and the adjacent 
provinces: those troops, therefore, which had held Britain 


*It is extraordinary, that the English historians mention this vojl 
aee as having discovered the insular situation ot Britain; thus, 01^er- 
looking a term repeatedly used by Caesar, in his Commentar les. r or 
instance: “ Tamen, magno sibi usui fore arbitrabatur, si modo insu/nrr 
adisset, genus hominum perspexisset; loca, portus, aditus cognoyis 
Fet.” Lib iv. xx. 


12 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


in subjection, and guarded it from the incursions of its 
northern invaders, were withdrawn. 

The Piets and Scots, who inhabited those regions which 
lay beyond the defences formed by the Romans, now made 
irruptions; threatening the whole province with depreda¬ 
tion and conquest. The former it is thought, were a tribe 
of Britains, who had been chased into the northern parts 
by Agricola. The latter were of the same Celtic origin; 
and were, previously, established in Ireland. 1 hese bar¬ 
badians broke over the Roman wall; and, though a con¬ 
temptible enemy, they met with no resistance from the un¬ 
warlike inhabitants. In this situation, the Britains applied 
to Rome, and obtained for their relief one legion; which 
soon drove the invaders into their ancient limits. 1 he re¬ 
turn, however, of this force, to the defence of the southern 
provinces of the empire, was a signal for a fresh invasion; 
which, by the assistance of a legion, was again repelled. 
But the Romans, reduced to extremity at home, could no 
longer afford succour to the Britains: and, after generously 
assisting them in renewing the wall of Severus, they bade 
^ a final adieu; having been masters of the greater 
part of the island for nearly four centuries. 

The earliest example of successful attention to literature, 
given by a native of the subjected districts, was by Helena, 
the daughter of Coil us, a tributary king of Britain, wife of 
the Roman emperor, Constantius Chlorus, and mother of 
Constantine the great, who was born in Britain. There 
was no woman of her time more accomplished, either in 
letters or the polite arts, or of more amiaDlc disposition. 


CHAPTER III. 

THE BRITAINS. 

UNABLE to protect themselves against their rapacious 
neighbours, the Britains regarded this present of liberty 
as a misfortune. The flower of their youth having accom¬ 
panied Ctatian and Constantine, two Romans who made 
an unsuccessful attempt on the imperial throne* the people 
were deprived of the assistance of those who were the 
most capable of uniting them by their advice. The Piets 
and Scots, relieved from the terror of the Roman arms, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


13 


now regarded Britain as their prize; and poured in with 
unabated ferocity. The Britains again made application to 
their former masters. Their ambassadors carried to Rome 
a letter from their countrymen; which was entitled, “The 
Groans of the Britains.” The tenor of the epistle cor¬ 
responded with the superscription; u The barbarians, on 
the one hand, chase us into the sea: the sea, on the other, 
throws us back upon the barbarians; so that we have only 
the hard choice left us, of perishing by the sword or by 
the waves.” 

But the Romans, pressed by the arms of Attila, the most 
formidable enemy that had ever assailed the empire, had 
no leisure to attend to the supplication of allies. Thus 
rejected, they abandoned their habitations; and, flying for 
refuge to the forests and mountains, suffered equally by 
hunger and by the enemy; until the barbarians, unable to 
exist in a land which they had desolated, retreated, with 
their spoils, into their own country. 

Relieved from the presence of their invaders, the Britains 
returned to their usual occupations; and soon forgot their 
miseries in the comforts which succeeded. But they ne¬ 
glected to make provision against any future attacks. The 
precarious authority, enjoyed by the chiefs, in the various 
districts independent of each other, created a disunion, 
which greatly militated against the whole; and to this dis¬ 
advantage, were added, their religious disputes, arising 
from the schismatical doctrines of Pelagius. Labouring 
under these domestic evils, and threatened by a foreign 
invasion, they sent into Germany, to implore the aid of 
the Saxons. 


CHAPTER IV. 

THE SAXONS. 

THE ancient Germans were the most distinguished of 
11 the barbarous nations, for their valour and their attach¬ 
ment to liberty. Even when a monarchy was at any time 
established amongst them, the sovereign was directed, in 
every measure, by the approbation of the people. No un¬ 
principled despot was allowed the power of sporting with 
the life, or with the property, of his fellow being. When 
B 2 


14 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


any important question was to be debated, the warriors 
met in arms; and freely expressed their disapproval, or 
their assent: the former by their murmurs; the latter, by 
the rattling of their armour. Their leaders were chosen 
for their merit; chiefly for their valour: and the contri¬ 
butions which they levied, were merely for subsistence; 
the honour of exalted rank being the only reward of their 
dangers and fatigues. 

Of all those tribes, the Saxons were the most distin¬ 
guished. War was their principal employment. 

They had spread themselves from the most northern 
parts of Germany; had taken possession of all the sea- 
coast, from the mouth of the Rhine to Jutland; and had 
long infested, by their piracies, the southern parts of Brit¬ 
ain, and the northern parts of Gaul. It may, therefore, 
reasonably be supposed, that they gladly accepted the invi¬ 
tation of the simple Britains. 

450 Under the conduct of Hengist and Horsa, two 
brothers of great authority, the Saxons, amounting 
to sixteen-hundred, landed on the isle of Thanet; and, im¬ 
mediately marching against the Piets and Scots, mad,? 
them fly before them. But these chiefs were determine., 
to conquer only for their own advantage. They soon re¬ 
ceived a reinforcement of five-thousand of their country¬ 
men, raised a dispute with the Britains, and formed an al¬ 
liance with the Piets and Scots. A dreadful scene ensued, 
of slaughter, rapine, and devastation. The bravery of Vor- 
timer, whom the Britains placed at their head, instead of 
his ignoble father, Vortigern, could preserve, only for a 
short time, his degenerate compatriots. Some remained 
in servitude under their treacherous victors: some fled to 
Gaul and there founded the province of Brittany; and others 
took shelter in the remote parts of Cornwall and Wales. 

To share in the general plunder, the Northern hordes 
came over in succession. The invaders were chiefly Sax¬ 
ons, Angles, and Jutes ; who all spoke the same language, 
and passed under the common appellation, sometimes of 
Saxons, sometimes of Angles. But, neither amusement 
nor instruction would be given, by a tedious detail of the 
barbarous names of those adventurers, who participated 
in the equally barbarous transactions of that age. The 
native characters are scarcely more worthy of remark. 
The only person of interest was Arthur, prince of the Si- 
lures; who, by his heroic valour, about the year 508, sus 
tained the declining for* -es of his country, and was much 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


15 


celebrated by the ancient bards; but his achievements arc 
blended with so many fables, as almost to induce a doubt 
of his existence. 


CHAPTER V. 

THE HEPTARCHY. 

AFTER a violent contest, of nearly one-hundred-and- 
fifty years, seven kingdoms were formed in Britain; known 
by the name of the Saxon Heptarchy. These were Kent, 
Sussex, Wessex, East-Anglia, Mercia, Essex, and North 
umberland; the respective conquests of Hengist, Allla, 
Cerdic and his son Kenric, Uffa, Crida, Erkenwin, and 
Ethelfrid. The kingdom of Kent comprised the counties 
now known by the names of Kent, Middlesex, and Essex, 
and a part of Surry: Sussex, or South Saxony, the county 
of Sussex, and the remainder of Surry: Wessex, or West 
Saxony, Hants, Dorset, Wilts, Berks, and the Isle of 
Wight: East-Anglia, Cambridge, Suffolk and Norfolk. 
Mercia extended over all the middle counties, from the 
banks of the Severn, to the frontiers of East-Anglia and 
Essex. Essex, or East Saxony, included Essex, Middlesex, 
and a part of Hertfordshire; Northumberland, the counties 
of Northumberland and Durham, and some of the eastern 
counties of Scotland. 

The whole southern part of the island, except Wales 
and Cornwall, which still remained unsubdued, had totally 
changed its inhabitants, language, customs, and political 
institutions. The Britains, under the Roman dominion, 
had advanced so far, in arts and civilization, that they had 
built twenty eight considerable cities, besides a great num¬ 
ber of villages; but their Saxon conquerors threw every 
thing back into its ancient barbarity. 

At this period, there occurred a happy and me- 
’ morable event; the contemplation of which relieves 
us from the disagreeable feelings excited by the disgusting 
transactions of those ages. The British Saxons were now 
taught the benign principles of Christianity. The ancient 
inhabitants of the districts which the former had usurped, 
were, from the earliest promulgation of that sacred religion, 
enrolled amongst its votaries: but its practice had ceased 



16 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


in lliose parts, upon their dispersion, and was confined to 
Wales, the remote country of their retreat. The supersti¬ 
tion of the British Saxons, in common with that of their 
German brethren of the Continent, was of the grossest and 
most barbarous kind. They were idolaters : they worship¬ 
ped the sun and moon; and adored the god of thunder, 
by the name of Thor. But, Woden, whom they conceived 
was the ancestor of all their princes, and regarded as the 
god of war, naturally became their supreme deity, and the 
chief object of their worship. They believed, that if they 
gained the favour of this divinity, by their valour, (the 
most esteemed virtue amongst barbarians,) they would be 
admitted after death, into his hall, and there, satiate them¬ 
selves with ale, from the skulls of their enemies whom they 
had slain in battle. 

Previous to his ascending the papal chair, Gregory, sur- 
named the Great, had observed in the streets of Rome, 
some Saxon youths, of interesting appearance, and, struck 
with the beauty of their blooming countenances, asked, to 
what country they belonged. Being told that they were 
Jingles; he replied, that they ought, more properly, to be 
denominated Angels; that it was a pity the prince of dark¬ 
ness should enjoy so fair a prey; and that so beautiful an 
exterior should cover a mind devoid of righteousness and 
grace. He then inquired the name of their king. Being 
informed that it was Ella; “ Allelujah,” cried he: “ we 
must endeavour that the praises of God be sung in their 
country.” Moved by these happy allusions, when he ob¬ 
tained the pontificate, he appointed Augustine, a pious 
monk, to undertake the laudable, but dangerous, duty, of 
converting the British Saxons to Christianity. 

A favourable incident had prepared the way for intro¬ 
ducing Christianity amongst these people. Ethelbert, king 
of Kent, had married Bertha, the daughter of Caribert, 
king of Paris, one of the descendants of Clovis, the con¬ 
queror of Gaul; which princess, being of the Christian 
faith, had brought over with her a French bishop, and con¬ 
ducted herself in so irreproachable a manner, as to support 
its virtuous precepts by a virtuous example; and employed 
every art of insinuation and address, to reconcile her hus¬ 
band to her religion. 

Having arrived at the isle of Thanet, Augustine sent an 
interpreter to Ethelbert, the king of Kent, (a great-grand¬ 
son of the first Saxon invader, Hengist) declaring, that he 
bad been sent from Rome with offers of eternal salvatiou 





HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


1 


Ethelbert invited Augustine to his court. He was then 
informed, by the pipus stranger, that everlasting joys, and 
a kingdom without end, would be the reward of his em 
bracing the Christian religion.—“Your words and pro 
mises,” replied the king, “ are fair; but, as they are new. 
and uncertain, I cannot, immediately, relinquish the prin¬ 
ciples which I have inherited from my ancestors. You 
are welcome, however, to remain here in peace: I will 
supply you with all necessaries, and permit you to explain 
your doctrine to my subjects.” 

This conduct of Ethelbert was discreet and generous; 
worthy of imitation, even at the present day. He soon 
espoused the religion of Augustine; and his subjects, also, 
with the inhabitants of the other Saxon kingdoms, were, 
in a short time, converted to Christianity. 

Ethelbert’s conversion, joined to his matrimonial alli¬ 
ance, produced an intercourse with the French, the Italians, 
and other nations of the Continent. This had a happy 
effect. It raised his subjects from the ignorance and bar¬ 
barity, in which all the Saxon tribes had been long involved. 
With the consent of his people, he enacted a body of laws; 
the first that any of the northern conquerors committed 
to writing. 

After many revolutions, this monarchy, which, on the 
death of Ethelbert, descended to his son Eadbald, fell, with 
the others of the Heptarchy, under the dominion of Eg¬ 
bert, king of Wessex; who united them into one kingdom, 
which he named England; signifyingthe land of the Angles. 

The Saxons who subdued Britain, as they nad enjoyed 
great liberty in their own country, obstinately maintained 
that blessing in their new settlement. Their kings possess¬ 
ed a very limited authority. So far from being entitled to 
an arbitrary power, they were only the first among the citi¬ 
zens. Their influence depended more on their personal 
qualities, than on their station. They were even so much 
on a level with the other inhabitants, that a stated price 
was affixed on their head; and their murderer was exon¬ 
erated by the payment of a fine, in the same manner as lor 
the murder of the meanest subject. All the kingdoms ot 
the heptarchy were, occasionally,united; and in each there 
was a national council, called a Wittenagemot, or assembly 
of the wise men; whose consent was required for enacting 
laws, and ratifying the chief acts of administration. 

The Anglo-Saxons, in common with all the northern na 
dons of Europe, were not very strict in maintaining a regu 


IS 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


lar succession of their princes. Though they paid great 
respect to the royal family, they either had no rule, or none 
♦hat was steadily observed, in filling the vacant throne. If 
any king, on his death, left a son, of an age and capacity 
fit for government, he naturally ascended the throne; but, 
if he was a minor, it was occupied by his uncle, or the next 
prince of the blood. All these changes, however, and in¬ 
deed the ordinary administration of government, required 
the express concurrence, or at least the implied consent, 
of the people. 

The punishments inflicted by the Anglo-Saxon courts of 
judicature, as well as the proofs employed, were different 
from those which prevail amongst all civilized nations, in 
(he present age. Indemnity for all kinds of wounds re¬ 
ceived, and for death itself, was fixed, by the Saxon laws, 
at a regular price. A wound of an inch long, under the 
hair, was recompensed by one shilling; a scar, of equal 
size, upon the face, by two shillings; thirty shillings were 
received for the loss of an ear; and other scars were com- 

f iensated in proportion. Their mode of evidence was still 
urther dissimilar to the modern practice. When any con¬ 
troversy about a fact became too intricate for their judges 
to unravel, they had recourse to (what they called) the 
judgment of God; that is, to fortune; and their methods 
of consulting this oracle were various. The most remark¬ 
able custom was by the ordeal. It was practised, general¬ 
ly, by boiling water, or red-hot iron. The water or iron 
being consecrated by many ceremonies, the person accused 
either took up a stone immersed in the former a certain 
depth, or carried the iron a certain distance; and his hand 
being then wrapped up, and the covering sealed for three 
days, if there appeared, on examination, no marks of 
burning, he was pronounced innocent; if otherwise, guilty. 
The trial by cold water, was different. Into this, the cul¬ 
prit was thrown, his feet and his hands being tied. If he 
swam, he was guilty; if he sunk, he was considered inno¬ 
cent; though, to us, it appears extraordinary, that any in¬ 
nocent person could ever be acquitted by the one trial, or 
any criminal be convicted by the other. 

This purgation by ordeal seems to have been very,an¬ 
cient, and universal in the times of superstitious barbar¬ 
ity. It was known to the ancient Greeks; and there is 
also a very peculiar species of water-ordeal, said to prevail 
amongst the Indians, on the coast of Malabar; where, a 
person, accused of any enormous crime, is obliged to swim 




HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


19 


over a broad river, abounding with crocodiles; and, if he 
escapes unhurt, he is reputed innocent. la Siam, too, be¬ 
sides the usual methods of fire and water ordeal, both par¬ 
ties are sometimes exposed to the fury of a tiger, let loose 
for that purpose: and, if the beast spares either, that per¬ 
son is accounted innocent; if neither, both are held to be 
guilty; but, if he spares both, the trial is incomplete. 

It is easy, to trace out the traditional relics of this watei 
ordeal, in the ignorant barbarity, still practised in many 
countries, to discover witches, by casting them into a pool 
of water, and drowning them to prove their innocence. 

The most ancient British historian was Gildas; from 
whose writings, dated about the middle of the sixth centu¬ 
ry, is derived the only information of that period. John 
of Beverly, archbishop of York, who died in the year 721, 
was one of the best scholars of his time; ana his pupil, 
Bede, though possessing all the puerile credulity of those 
days, shone as a meteor, in the darkness of a car barons 
age. 


CHAPTER VI. 

ENGLAND. 

Egbert, Ethelwolf, Ethelbald and Ethelbert, Ethelred, AIJred 
the Great, Edward the Elder, Athelstan, Edmund, Edred, 
Edwy, Edgar, Edward the Martyr, Ethelred the second , 
Edmund Ironside. 

FROM this period, our history will be less diffi- 
cult of delineation, and more interesting to the 
reader; as the materials are concentrated, and the events 
assume some degree of resemblance to those of the pre¬ 
sent age. 

The inhabitants of the several provinces showed no de¬ 
sire of revolting from the authority of Egbert. I heir 
language and laws, their customs and religion, were, every 
where, nearly the same; and, in all the subjected states, 
the race of their ancient kings was totally extinct. 

By living in the court, and serving in the armies, of 
Charlemagne, Egbert acquired those accomplishments, 
which afterwards enabled him to make so shining a figure 
on the throne. 


20 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Governed by a monarch of superior talents and the high¬ 
est degree of prudence, and strengthened by their political 
union, the people had reason to expect, that, thenceloi- 
ward, they would be guarded against inroad and devasta¬ 
tion. But these flattering hopes were soon destroyed. 
The Danes, who, at that period, committed most barbarous 
ravages, appeared upon the coast. T he causes whicn pi o- 
duced the invasions by this formidable enemy, deseive at 
tendon. The emperor Charlemagne, though naturally 
generous and humane, had been led, by an erroneous ap¬ 
plication of the Christian doctrine, to use great se\ciity 
against the pagan Saxons in Germany; and had obliged 
them, to make a seeming renunciation of idolatry. But 
that religion, which had been easily introduced amongst 
the British Saxons, by persuasion and address, appeared 
odious to their German brethren, when imposed upon 
them bv the sword. 1 lie most warlike of the latter fled 
into Jutland, to escape the fury of persecution; and, assist¬ 
ed by the people of that country, they invaded the provinces 
of France; then but feebly protected by the degenerate pos¬ 
terity of Charlemagne; and, under the name of Normans, 
(signifying men of the north,) became the terror of all 
whom they attacked. 

Their first appearance, in Britain, was in the year 787. 
The English, being of the same religion as the French, 
were equally the object of retaliation. The next alarm was 
given about six years afterwards; when a body oi these pi¬ 
rates robbed a monastery. But their ships being damaged 
in a storm, and their leader slain, they were at last defeat¬ 
ed. These were only the precursors of more serious at¬ 
tacks: the Danes followed their example; and now 
began those formidable invasions, which make so 
considerable a figure in the history of those times. They 
were, however, by the activity of Egbert, driven from the 
kingdom. 

Ethelwolf, the son of Egbert, had neither the 
vigour, nor the abilities of his father. He was bet¬ 
ter qualified for governing a convent than a kingdom. Fie 
divided his dominions; and gave the provinces of Essex, 
Kent, and Sussex, to his eldest son, Athelstan. 

The incursions of the Danes had now become almost an 
nual; and every part of England was exposed to continual 
alarm. Their vessels, being small, were easily run up the. 
creeks and rivers; upon the banks of which they were 
drawn ashore; where, an intrenchment was formed around 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


52 1 


them, and guarded by a part of their number. The rest 
then scattered themselves over the country; and, carrying 
away the inhabitants and the cattle, they all hastened to 
their boats, and quickly disappeared. 

Athelstan having died, and Ethelwolf being absent, on 
a pilgrimage, at Rome, Ethelbald, the second son, formed 
a project for dethroning his father. This induced the king 
to make a second partition of his dominions; and give to 
Ethelbald the sovereignty of the western division. After 
this, Ethelwolf lived only two years. He left four sons, 
Ethelbald, Ethelbert, Ethelred and Alfred; having, by his 
will, divided England between the two eldest. 

The ecclesiastics now made rapid advances in the acqui¬ 
sition of power and grandeur. Though parishes had been 
instituted in England nearly two centuries before, the cler¬ 
gy had not, until the present reign, got possession of the 
tithes: but, a superstitious and imbecile monarch being 
on the throne, when the people were discouraged by their 
losses from the Danes, and terrified by the fear of future 
invasions, they were susceptible of any impression, that 
bore the appearance of religion; unable to discern that, 
though all the Mosaic law was binding on the Jews, only 
the moral part of it was obligatory on Christians. 

_ Ethelbald was a profligate prince; and lived but 
0 ’ a short time after obtaining the government of his 
province. Ethelbert, who united his deceased brother’s 
division with his own, conducted himself, during a five 
years’ reign, in.a manner more becoming his birth and 
situation, and defeated the Danes, with considerable loss, 
at Winchester. 

Ethelbert was succeeded by his brother Ethel 

p /* • 

* red; who, though he defended himself with brave¬ 
ry, enjoyed, during his whole reign, no cessation of the 
Danish irruptions. 

Alfred, (the youngest son of Ethelwolf) -who fol- 
871, lowed his brother, Ethelred, gave early indications 
of those great virtues, and illustrious talents, by which, in 
the most difficult circumstances, he saved his country from 
bondage and from ruin. He was now twenty-two years of 
age. When a boy, he had been twice in Rome; yet, it 
does not appear, that he made, in consequence, any ad¬ 
vances in his education; as, he had reached his twelfth 
vear, without having obtained a knowledge of the lowest 
elements of literature. His genius was at length roused 
by the recital of Saxon poems; and thenceforward he ap 
C 



22 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


plied himself to study, so assiduously, that he soon became 
acquainted with many of the ancient Greek and Latin 
works. But, when called to the protection of his country, 
he shook off his literary employments, and took the field, 
with alacrity, to oppose the Danes. 

A new swarm of those ravagers came over, under 
Guthrum, Oscitel, and Amund ; and, having joined 
their countrymen at Repton, spread themselves over the 
whole kingdom. The king exerted himself so vigorously, 
that, in the course of one year, he fought eight battles, 
and reduced them to the greatest extremity. A fresh 
band, however, of these robbers, landed on the coast. This 
so disheartened his subjects, that many of them lied out 
of the kingdom; and others submitted to the conquerors. 
The utmost energies of Alfred were now insufficient to 
rouse the people to resistance. He was obliged to relin¬ 
quish the ensigns of royalty, and, in the humblest disguise, 
to seek shelter from the enemy. He concealed himself in 
a peasant’s habit, and lived for some time in the cabin of 
a herd, who had been intrusted with the care of his own 
cows. One day, the wife of the herd, observing him en¬ 
gaged by the fire-side in trimming his bows and arrows, 
desired him to take care of some cakes that were toasting; 
but Alfred, whose thoughts were otherwise engaged, neg¬ 
lected his charge. The good woman, finding her cakes 
all burned, scolded him severely; upbraiding him, that he 
always seemed well pleased when eating her cakes, though 
he was thus negligent in toasting them. 

YV hen Alfred found that the enemy had abated the 
eagerness of their search for him, he collected some of his 
retainers; and, having retired into the centre of a bog, 
formed by the stagnant waters of the Thone and Parrett, 
in Somersetshire, he there discovered about two acres of 
firm ground, upon which he built a habitation. This place 
was secured by the difficulty of the passes, and by the for¬ 
ests and morasses by which it was surrounded. He called 
it ALthelingey, signifying the isle of nobles. It now bears 
the name of Athelney. 1 hence, he made frequent sallies 
upon the Danes; who often felt the vigour of his arm, but 
Knew not from what quarter they received the blow. ’ 
After he had remained in this insulated retreat during a 
whole year, he heard of an exhilarating event. Hubba 
the Dane, having devastated Wales, had landed in Devon¬ 
shire, and laid siege to the castle of Kenwith. Oddune, 
earl of Devonshire, with his followers, had taken sheltet 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


23 


O.ere; and, determined, by some vigorous action, to pre¬ 
vent the necessity of submitting to the barbarians, made a 
spirited sally on the Danes, routed them, killed their chief, 
and got possession ol the famous Rcafen, or enchanted 
standard. I his ensign, containing the figure of a raven, 
was made by the three sisters of Hubba, with many magical 
incantations; and the superstitious Danes erroneously be¬ 
lieved, that the good or the bad success of any enterprise 
was prognosticated by its different movements. 

Encouraged by this conduct of his subjects, Alfred ven¬ 
tured from his retreat. But, lest he might prematurely 
urge them to the noble attempt of restoring their liberties, 
he resolved, himself, to inspect the situation of the enemy. 
He accordingly entered their camp in the disguise of a 
harper; passed everywhere unsuspected; so entertained 
them with his music and facetious stories, that he was in¬ 
troduced even into the tent of Guthrum; with whom, he re¬ 
mained lor several days; and, having remarked the unguard¬ 
ed manner of the Danes, and their inconsiderate wasting of 
what they gained by rapine and violence, he then-departed. 

Animated still further, by these favourable appearances, 
he summoned his principal subjects, with their warlike fol¬ 
lowers, to a rendezvous at Brixton, on the borders of Sel- 
wood Forest. At the appointed day, they joyfully resorted 
to meet their prince. With shouts of applause, they sa¬ 
luted their beloved monarch, whom they had long regarded 
as dead; but who, with voice and looks expressive of con¬ 
fidence, now called them forth to victory and freedom. Pie 
conducted them to Eddington, where the Danes were en¬ 
camped ; and, directing his unexpected attack against their 
most unguarded quarter, instantly routed them, with great 
slaughter. Those who remained, he settled in East-Anglia 
and Northumberland. But, that he might have at least 
one pledge of their submission, he previously stipulated 
that they should embrace Christianity: to which, Guthrum 
and his followers consented. They were then all admitted 
to baptism. The king answered for the Danish chieftain 
at the font, gave him the name of Athelstan, and received 
him as his adopted son. 

Alfred now employed his time in restoring that order 
which had been shaken by so many violent convulsions. 
He established military institutions, infused a taste for in¬ 
dustry, and a love of justice, and provided against future 
calamities. As equality in the administration of the laws, 
is a great source of concord, he placed the Danes on the 


24 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


same footing with the English. After rebuilding London, 
which had been destroyed in the reign of Ethelwolf, he 
very prudently organized a regular militia, to whom he 
assigned a rotation of duty; so that, whilst a part were em¬ 
ployed in arms, the remainder attended to the cultivation 
of the land; and, wisely judging that the best method of 
opposing an enemy, who made incursions by sea, was to 
meet them on the same element, he provided a naval pow¬ 
er; an important defence, which, hitherto, had been totally 
neglected by the English: by which means, he repelled 
several inroads of the Danes, and maintained his kingdom, 
during many years, in tranquillity. 

But Hastings, the famous Danish chieftain, ap- 
’ peared off the coast of Kent, with a fleet of three- 
hundred-and-thirty sail; and he himself, with a division of 
his vessels, entering the Thames, commenced most de¬ 
structive ravages. Their progress, however, was soon ar¬ 
rested. Alfred, with his usual alertness and intrepidity, 
took the field; and chased the greater part of those free¬ 
booters out ol the country. He had to contend also with 
the East-Anglian Danes; who,encouraged by the presence 
of their countrymen, broke into rebellion, and embarked in 
upwards of two-hundred vessels, with which they appeared 
before Exeter. These, he lost not a moment in opposing. 
He instantly marched against this new enemy ; and, falling 
suddenly upon them, pursued them to their ships. 

In the mean time, Hastings advanced towards the in¬ 
terior, and plundered all around him. But he soon had 
reason to repent his temerity. Assisted by a party of the 
citizens, the English army, which had been left in London, 
defeated him at Bamflete; and carried off his wife and two 
sons; whom Alfred generously restored; on condition that 
the Dane should evacuate the kingdom. 

Our limits will not allow us to follow this monarch, 
through the almost innumerable struggles which he main¬ 
tained with these atrocious barbarians, whom he at length 
subdued. Having taken prisoners a large body, who had 
landed under the command of Sigefert, a Northumbrian 
he tried them at Winchester, then the capital of his do 5 
minions, and hanged them all, as pirates and the common 
enemies ot mankind; a well timed ieverity; which, to- 
gethei with the excellent posture ol defence, every wheve 
established, again restored the happiness of peace. 

The Welsh having acknowledged his authority, whi-.h 
was now extended from the English Channel to the frontk 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


25 


901 Scotland, he died, in the fifty-second year of his 
age, after a glorious reign of nearly thirty years; 
having justly obtained the appellation of Alfred the Great, 
and Founder of the English Monarchy. 

In private, or in public life, the merit of this prince has 
never been excelled. His only competitor is the illustrious 
Washington. But, let us not, by endeavouring, pre-emi¬ 
nently, to exalt one hero, unwillingly lessen our admiration 
ol the other. Alfred seems, to use the language of an 
elegant historian, “ to be the model of that perfect charac¬ 
ter, which the philosophers have been fond of delineating, 
rather as a fiction of their imagination, than in hopes of 
ever seeing it really existing; and nature, as if willing that 
so fine a production should be set in the fairest light, had 
bestowed on him every bodily accomplishment,—vigour of 
limbs, dignity of shape and air, with a pleasant and agree¬ 
able countenance.” 

When the Danes were subdued, Alfred found the king¬ 
dom in a most wretched condition. The country was over¬ 
run with straggling parties of those people; and the greater 
number, even of the English, reduced to extreme indi¬ 
gence, had shaken off the bands of government, and plun¬ 
dered their fellow citizens, in every direction. That he 
•might render the execution of justice strict and regular, 
he divided England into shires,or counties; and subdivided 
these into hundreds and tithings. Ten neighbouring house¬ 
holders were formed into a corporation; under the name 
of a tithing, decennary, or fribourg; over which, he ap¬ 
pointed one person, called a headbourg, to preside. The 
members were held accountable for ettch other’s conduct; 
and every man who did not join one of these associations, 
was considered as an outlaw. 

So regular a distribution of the people, with limitations 
so strict, may not be necessary where men are inured to 
obedience to the laws; indeed, in a polished state, it would 
be subversive of liberty; but, amongst those licentious 
people, it was well calculated to extend the salutary disci¬ 
pline of government. 

All trilling disputes were referred to the decennary; but, 
in matters of greater moment, in appeals, or in controver¬ 
sies between men of different decennaries, the cause was 
brought before the hundred; which consisted of ten de¬ 
cennaries, or a hundred families of freemen, and assembled 
once every four weeks. Their method of decision resem¬ 
bled the present mode by juries; the best institution that 
C 2 


26 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


ever was contrived, for the administration of justice, and 
the preservation of liberty: but juries were not the inven¬ 
tion of Alfred, having been used before in England, and 
been long in practice amongst all the German nations. 
Besides these monthly meetings, there was an annual con¬ 
vention; for inquiring into crimes, correcting magisterial 
misconduct, and a general inspection of the police. Supe¬ 
rior to this, was the county court; which met twice a year- 
after Michaelmas and Easter; consisting of all the free 
holders of the county, who possessed an equal vote in the 
decisions. The bishop and alderman presided there : the 
business was to determine appeals, and decide controver¬ 
sies between men of different hundreds. 

From all these courts, there lay an appeal, to the king 
himself, in council; where, he was indefatigable in despatch¬ 
ing the numerous causes which came before him. TJie 
better, however, to guide the magistrates in the adminis¬ 
tration of justice, Alfred formed a body of laws; which 
though now lost, served long as the basis of English juris¬ 
prudence. This code is generally esteemed the origin of 
the “ Common Law.” He appointed meetings of the se¬ 
veral states, to be held twice a year in London; which he 
had repaired and beautified, and, thus, rendered the capital 
of the kingdom. 

The similarity of these institutions, to the customs of 
the ancient Germans, to the practice of the other northern 
conquerors, and to the Saxon laws, during the Heptarchy, 
prevents us from regarding Alfred as the sole author of 
this plan of government; but leads us rather to suppose, 
fhat, like a wise man, he contented himself with reform¬ 
ing, extending, and properly applying, the institutions, 
which he had found previously established. 

It is recorded of Alfred, that he hung forty-four corrupt 
judges, in one year; and so exact was the general police, 
that, it is said, he suspended, near the highways, bracelets 
of gold; which no man dared to touch. Yet, amidst all 
these rigours of justice, this great prince preserved an in¬ 
violable regard for the liberties of his people. In his will, 
is this memorable sentiment: “ It is just, that the English 
should always remain as free as their own thoughts 

At the time of Alfred’s ascending the throne, there was 
not one person, south of the Thames, and very few in the 
northern parts, who could interpret the Latin service of 
the church. But this prince invited over the most emi¬ 
nent scholars from the continent; established schools in all 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


parts of the kingdom; and founded, or, at least, re-estab' 
lished the University of Oxford. He was an author of high 
reputation ; and translated many Latin and Greek works ; 
amongst which were the elegant fables of iFsop. He 
also invited industrious foreigners to repeople those dis¬ 
tricts which had been desolated by the Danes; encouraged 
manufactures, and rewarded the inventors of ingenious arts. 
He usually divided his time into three equal portions. One 
was employed in study and devotion: another, in the des¬ 
patch of business: a third, in sleep, and the recruiting of 
his body, by diet and exercise: which divisions he exactly 
measured, by the use of burning tapers, of equal lengths; 
an expedient suited to that rude age, when the geometry of 
dialling, and the mechanism of clocks and watches, were 
totally unknown. 

The language of England had not, as yet, assumed an 
appearance, in which we can distinguish the dawning of 
the present English. Alfred’s imitation of Boethius, taken 
as a specimen, displays the Saxon in its highest state ol 
ancient purity, with scarcely any intermixture of the 
Roman. 

Alfred left three sons, and three daughters. The eldest 
- son, Edmund, having died, in his father’s lifetime, without 
children, the second, Edward, succeeded to the throne. 

This prince, known by the appellation of Edward the 
Elder, possessed considerable military talent; and success¬ 
fully combated every attack made on the tranquillity of the 
kingdom; whether by foreign, or domestic, enemies. It 
was he who founded the University of Cambridge. 

Edward was followed by Athelstan; who*though 
* a natural son of the preceding king, yet ascended 
the throne in preference to Edward’s legitimate children; 
whose tender age rendered them incapable of governing 
a country, so much exposed to irruptions from abroad, and 
convulsions within itself. By these national calamities, 
Athelstan was severely harassed; but, by his great abilities, 
he preserved his dominions inviolate. 

He maintained a successful war against the king of 
Scotland, for having protected Anlaf, a Danish nobleman, 
who had rebelled. When in the neighbourhood of the 
English army, Anlaf employed the artifice formerly prac¬ 
tised by Alfred against the Danes; and entered Athelstan’s 
camp, in the habit of a minstrel. He so highly pleased 
the soldiers, that they introduced him to the king’s tent; 
and, having played before the prince and his nobles, he 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


28 

was dismissed with a handsome present. His prudence 
pi evented him from refusing the present, but his pride de¬ 
termined him, on his departure, to bury it, when he thought 
that he was unobserved. But, a soldier in the English 
camp, who had formerly served under Anlaf, having enter¬ 
tained suspicion on the first appearance of the minstrel, 
nad narrowly watched him; and, regarding this last action 
as a full proof of Anlaf’s disguise, he carried the intelli¬ 
gence to Athelstan. The king foresaw that the incident 
might be attended with important consequences. He re¬ 
moved his station in the camp; and, as a bishop arrived 
that evening with some troops, (for the clergy were then no 
Ie,ss warlike than the civil magistrates,) he occupied, with 
his train, the very place which had been left vacant by the 
king. I he precaution of Athelstan was found prudent, 
No sooner was it dark, than Anlaf broke into the camp; 
and, hastening directly to the place where he had left the 
king’s tent, put the bishop to death, before he had time to 
make defence. 

Athelstan caused the Scriptures to be translated into the 
Saxon language; and passed a remarkable law, which dis¬ 
plays a mind considerably more enlightened, than could be 
looked for in those days ol almost universal ignorance. It 
enacted, that a merchant, who, on his own account, had 
made three long sea-voyages, should be admitted to the 
1 ank of a thane; a title equivalent to that of gentleman. 

941 Edmund, a paternal brother of Athelstan, was 
very young when he came to the crown, and, during 
his short reign, met with considerable disturbance. At a 
lestival in Gloucester, he was killed in a rencounter with a 
notoi ious robber; who had the presumption to enter the 
hall where the king was sitting at dinner. 

946. lhc children of Edmund, being very younp- 
were set aside in favour of his brother Edred. ’ 

In this reign, the monks, whose introduction into* the 
kingdom was coeval with that of Christianity, greatly in- 
creased in number; and,by the assistance of Dunstan, abbot 
ol Glastonbury, the monastic rules were rendered much 
more rigid than before. This ecclesiastic, who is known 
by the name of St. Dunstan, secluded himself entirely from 
the world. He framed a cell, so small, that he could 
neither stand erect in it, nor stretch out his limbs during 
repose; and here employed himself perpetually, either in 
devotion or manual labour. By these solitary occupations 
he aecame gradually insane, and imagined chimeras, whichj 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


20 


being believed by himself and his stupid votaries, procured 
him a character of great sanctity amongst the people, lie 
fancied that the devil, in his frequent visits, was one day 
more earnest than usual in his temptations; till, provok¬ 
ed at his importunities, he seized him by the nose, with 
a pair of red-hot pincers, as he put his head into the cell, 
and that he held him there, till that malignant spirit made 
the whole neighbourhood resound with his beliowihgs. 

A violent altercation now occurred, in consequence of a 
new order of the Roman church, that a strict celibacy 
should be observed, by the monks, and all orders of the 
clergy; which, before the death of the present monarch, 
was, in a great measure, established. 

The next king was Edwy; nephew of the last mon¬ 
arch, and son of Edmund, his predecessor. This 
prince, who ascended the throne at the age of sixteen, was 
endowed with the most promising virtues; and, distinguish 
ed by a handsome exterior. His reign was short an»d un 
fortunate; but it might have been equally happy for him¬ 
self and his subjects, had he not been engaged in a contro 
versv with the monks. This arose from his having espoused, 
against the remonstrances of the bishops, a beautiful prin¬ 
cess of the royal blood, named Elgiva; who was within 
the degrees of affinity forbidden by the canon law. 

By the application of a red-hot iron, his queen was de¬ 
prived of her fatal beauty; after which, she was carried 
into Ireland; there, to remain, in perpetual exile. Being, 
however, cured of her wounds, she escaped into England; 
but, when flying to the embraces of her husband, she was 
again seized; and was deprived of life, in the most cruel 
manner. Meanwhile, Edwy was excommunicated; which 
event was soon afterwards followed by his death. 

Edwy was succeeded by his brother, Edgar. 

958 ’ Though he ascended the throne at an early age, yet 
he soon discovered an excellent capacity: his reign is one 
of the most fortunate that the ancient history of England 
can produce. He built and supported a powerful navy; 
which was always employed in the protection of the coast. 
His character, however, would be more estimable, had he 
confined the exercise of his talents to the preservation of 
his dominions, and not employed them in the subjugation 
of his neighbours. If the account be true, which men 
tions his having been rowed upon the Dee by eight of his 
tributary kings, we have more reason to admire the gran¬ 
deur of the scene, than compliment him on his moderation 


30 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


in prosperity. The reputation of Edgar encouraged many 
foreigners to settle in the kingdom. These, we are told, 
contributed to corrupt the simple manners of the natives; 
but, as this simplicity had not preserved them from barba¬ 
rity, or from treachery, one of the greatest of all vices, it 
is probable that their morals did not suffer much injury 
from the change. 

Edgar’s character, in private life, throws a darkening 
reflection on his lustre as a prince. In the gratification of 
his desires, he was unrestrained. The circumstances of 
his marriage with Elfrida, are alike singular and criminal. 
Elfrida was the daughter and heiress of Olgar, earl of 
Devonshire; and, though she had never appeared at court, 
she had filled all England with the reputation of her beauty. 
Edgar was not inattentive to such reports. He resolved, 
if he found her charms correspondent to her fame, to ob¬ 
tain possession of her; and, as her family was noble, not 
to court her as a mistress, but to place her on his throne. 
He commissioned earl Athelwold, his favourite, to visit her 
father’s castle, on some pretence, and bring him a certain 
account of Elfrida’s beauty. Athelwold, found her more 
beautiful than she had been reported; and, being actuated 
by the most ardent love, he determined to sacrifice to his 
passion, his fidelity to his master. He informed Edgar 
that the report was untrue; that she was not handsome; 
that she was, on the contrary,*of a homely appearance; but, 
that though she was a very unfitting partner for a king, she 
would, on account of her great riches, be an advantageous 
match for an humble earl. Edgar consented to his intend¬ 
ed suit; and Athelwold became her husband. The king 
was soon informed of the truth; but, before he would exe¬ 
cute vengeance on Athelwold’s treachery, he resolved to 
ascertain, with his own eyes, the certainty and full extent 
of his guilt. He told him, that he intended to pay him a 
visit,-at his castle; and Athelwold, as he could not refuse 
this honour, begged only leave to go before him, a few 
hours, that he might the better prepare every thing for his 
reception. He then discovered the whole matter to Elfrida; 
and begged her, if she had any regard, either to his own 
hoiiom 01 his life, to conceal from Edgar, by every dis¬ 
guise, that fascinating beauty, which had seduced him into 
treachery and falsehood. Elfrida promised to comply 
though nothing was further from her intention. She con¬ 
sidered herself little obliged to a man, who had deprived 
ho of 5 . ciown; and did not despair, even yet, of obtaining 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 3 

that station, by her charms, of which she had been deprived 
by her husband’s artifice. She appeared before the king-, 
in her richest attire, and with the most engaging airs; and 
excited, at once, the highest love towards herself, and the 
most furious revenge against her husband. Dissembling 
his passion, Edgar seduced him into a wood, on pretence 
of hunting, stabbed him with his own hand, and, soon after¬ 
wards, publicly espoused Eifrida. 

By the judicious policy of this monarch, a pecuniary in¬ 
ducement was offered, which caused the extirpation of 
wolves in England and Wales. 

Edgar died after a reign of sixteen years, and was suc¬ 
ceeded by his son, Edward. 

g75 Edward’s reign was short, and his end tragical. 

But, though the murder which terminated his life, 
had no connexion with any religious opinions, his youth, 
his innocence, and the manner of his death, produced so 
much compassion, that the people, believing that miracles 
were wrought at his tomb, gave him the name of Martyr. 

His stepmother, Eifrida, had a son Ethelred, seven years 
old, whom she attempted to raise to the throne. Yet Ed¬ 
ward had always shown marks of the greatest regard for 
her; and the most tender affection for his half-brother. 
He was hunting one day, in a forest in Dorsetshire; and, 
oeing led by the chace near Corse-castle, where Eifrida re¬ 
sided, he paid her a visit, unattended by any of his retinue, 
and thereby presented her with the opportunity which she 
had long desired. After he had remounted his horse, he 
requested a drink; and, whilst he was holding the cup to 
his head, a servant of Eifrida gave him a stab behind. The 
prince, finding himself wounded, put spurs to his horse: 
but, becoming faint by the loss of blood, he fell from the 
saddle, his foot stuck in the stirrup, and he was thus drag¬ 
ged along by his unruly horse, till he expired. 

Eifrida built monasteries and underwent penances, as an 
atonement for her guilt; but she could never, by all her 
hypocrisy and remorse, recover the good opinion of the 
public. 

To him, succeeded Ethelred, his half-brother: to 
whom, historians give the epithet of Unready; from 
his want of promptness in the hour of danger. 

The northern invaders, aware of the favourable opportu 
nity now afforded, by his inactivity and the bad conduct of 
those intrusted with the reins of government; of whom, 
Alfric, Duke of Mercia, was the most infamous; made a 


32 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

powerful descent, under Sweyn, king of Denmark, and 
Clave, king of Norway. A numerous army was assembled 
to oppose°them. A general engagement ensued: but, in 
consequence of the cowardice or treachery of their three 
commanders, Trithegist, Frena, and Godwin, (all of Da¬ 
nish extraction) the English were defeated; and, alter many 
other severe conflicts, Ethelred purchased a precarious 
peace; and Sweyn with his associate, Olave, evacuated the 
kingdom. But this shameful compromise served as an in¬ 
centive to further inroads. Sweyn, shortly after, recom¬ 
menced his invasions. The English, therefore, now de¬ 
void both of prudence and unanimity in council, and of 
courage and conduct in the field, had recourse to their for¬ 
mer weak expedient; and again ignominiously purchased 
by their gold, what they might have gloriously gained by 
the sword. 

♦ After an unfortunate reign of thirty-five years, Ethelred 
died, leaving two sons by his first marriage^ Edmund, who 
succeeded him, and Edwy, whom Canute afterwards mur- 
desed. His two sons, Alfred and Edward, by his second 
marriage, with Emma, sister of Richard, duke of Nor¬ 
mandy, were immediately upon Ethelred’s death conveyed 
into Normandy, by their mother. 

Edmund, who had distinguished himself in the 
10 ' preceding reign, was, from his hardy valour, named 

Ironside. Though his courage and abilities might have 
been adequate to prevent his country from declining, they 
were unequal to the task of raising it from its degradation. 
Frustrated in his endeavours by the disaffection of his no¬ 
bility and prelates, and wearied by their importunities, he 
consented to divide the kingdom with Canute the Dane: to 
whom, was given the northern division; comprising East 
Anglia, Mercia, and Northumberland. In a month after 
this partition, Edmund was murdered at Oxford. 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE HANES. 

Canute the Great , Harold Harefoot , Hardicanute. 

IQCANUTE, the son and successor of Sweyn, king 
of Denmark, now ascended the throne of England s 


• HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 33 

in which usurpation, he was aided by some nobles, who 
falsely interpreted the treaty, made with Edmund, at 
Gloucester. 

Edmund Ironside had left two sons, Edwin and Edward ; 
both in their minority. These young princes were sent by 
Canute to his ally, the king of Sweden; whom he requested 
to despatch them. But the Swedish monarch, too generous 
to comply, conveyed them to Solomon, King of Hungary; 
to be educated at his court. Edwin married Solomon’s 
sister; and died soon after, without issue. Edward espous¬ 
ed a daughter of the emperor, Henry the second; from 
which marriage, sprung Edgar Atheling, who will here¬ 
after appear as a claimant of the English throne. 

Canute reigned eighteen years; leaving three sons: 
Sweyn, who succeeded to the crown of Norway; which his 
father had won by conquest: Hardicanute, then on the 
throne of Denmark, whose mother was Emma, widow of 
Ethelred the Unready, and sister of Richard, duke of Nor¬ 
mandy : and Harold, who followed his father, as king of 
England. 

The epithet, attached to the name of Canute, as well as 
to that of many other princes, is not, by the inexperienced 
reader, to be construed as implying any extraordinary 
share of virtue; such virtue as adorns the patriotic citizen. 
Great, when applied by the interested adulators of royalty, 
too often refers to those qualities of the mind, and acts of 
martial prowess, which are conspicuously exerted in the 
oppression of an unresisting people, or in the awful de¬ 
struction of an unoffending neighbour. 

Assisted by earl Godwin, a powerful nobleman, 
Harold, surnamed Harefoot, from his swiftness in 
running, distinguished himself by cruelty and injustice. 

Hardicanute, (or Canute the Hardy,) his suc- 

J * cessor, was,upon his arrival from Denmark, joyfully 
received by the English. But, very different feelings were 
soon produced by his atrocity. In all his cruel and tyran¬ 
nical proceedings, he, too, was assisted by Godwin. This 
nobleman, being charged with the murder of prince Alfred, 
a son of Ethelred the Unready, and maternal brother of Har¬ 
dicanute, in order to appease the king, made him a present 
of a splendid galley. It was rowed by eighty men; each 
of whom wore upon his arm a golden bracelet, weighing 
sixteen ounces, and had his other appointments of the most 
sumptuous kind. The king, pleased by its magnificence, 
quickly forgot the murder; and, on Godwin’s swearing 
D 


34 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

that he was innocent of the imputed crime, obtained for 
him an acquittal. 

This violent reign was of very short duration. Hardi- 
canute died suddenly at the marriage ol' a Danish lord ; 
which it is probable he attended to gratify his habit of 
intemperance. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

SAXON LINE RESTORED. 

Edward the Confessor , (Harold the second .) 

EDWARD, the youngest and only surviving son 
1041. £j_helred the Unready, and half-brother of Hardi- 
canute, (their mother being Emma, widow of Ethelred,) 
was at this time fortunately at court; and, as Sweyn, the 
eldest son of Canute, was in Norway, and the last two kings 
had died without issue, the English embraced the favoura¬ 
ble opportunity of shaking off the Danish yoke. Though, 
however, the descendants of Edmund Ironside were the 
true heirs of the Saxon family, yet their absence, in so 
remote a country as Hungary, appeared a sufficient reason 
for their exclusion. 

The king, by the mildness of his conduct, soon reconcil¬ 
ed the Danish inhabitants to his administration; so that al) 
national distinctions gradually disappeared. In most of the 
provinces, the Danes were interspersed with the English • 
they spoke nearly the same language: they varied little in 
their laws or manners; and there is no iurther mention in 
history of any dissimilarity between them. Edward was 
educated in Normandy, and had contracted many intima¬ 
cies with the natives of that country, as well as a partiality 
for their manners. The court of England was soon filled 
with Normans; who, being distinguished both by the fa¬ 
vour of Edward, and a degree of cultivation superior to 
that of the English, soon rendered their language, laws, 
and customs, fashionable in the kingdom. The study of 
the French tongue became general; and that language was 
used, in their deeds and other papers, by the lawyers.. 

The most eminent character that appeared in this reign, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


35 

"was Siward, earl of Northumberland. This nobleman, 
besides his unwearied exertions in defence of the govern 
ment, against the attacks of its internal enemies, particu¬ 
larly Godwin, acquired honour to England, by his success¬ 
ful management of the only foreign enterprise undertaken 
during the reign of Edward. Duncan, king of Scotland, a 
prince of very gentle disposition, having been assassinated 
by Macbeth, a powerful nobleman nearly allied to the 
Scottish crown; Siward, whose daughter had been married 
to Duncan, embraced, by Edward’s concurrence, the pro¬ 
tection of his distressed family; marched an army into 
Scotland; and, having defeated and killed Macbeth in 
battle, restored Malcolm, Duncan’s son and heir, to the 
throne. This is the historical foundation of the tragedy 
of “ Macbeth;” one of the finest productions of the il¬ 
lustrious Shakespeare. 

Edward, to whom the monks give the name of saint and 
confessor, was the last of the Saxon line of English mon- 
archs. He was the first that touched for the scrophula or 
king’s evil: the opinion of his sanctity induced a belief 
that he could thus heal that incurable disorder; and his 
successors indulged the people in this delusion for nearly 
seven-hundred years.* 

Harold was a son of the famous earl Godwin, 

' (who had acted as steward of the household, under 
Edward,) and, by his mother’s side, grandson of Canute 
the Great. His sister Editha had been espoused by the 
late king. Before the death of Edward, he had so well 
prepared matters, that, notwithstanding the weakness "of 
his title, (Edgar Atheling, grandson of Edmund Ironside, 
being the legitimate heir of the sovereignty,) he immedi¬ 
ately stepped into the vacant throne* and the whole nation 
seemed joyfully to swear allegiance. 

The new king, however, was not allowed to remain long 
in tranquillity. A formidable rival soon appeared. Wil¬ 
liam, natural son of Robert, cluke of Normandy, by the 
daughter of a tanner in Falaise, was very early established 
in that grandeur, from which he seemed to have been 
placed at so great a distance, by his birth; and the eminent 
qualities which he soon displayed, in the field and in the 
cabinet, rendered him one of the most powerful princes of 
his time. Founding his pretensions to the British throne 
upon a family connexion, and some negotiations which had 

* This ridiculous practice was first discontinued by George the first. 


36 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


taken place 'when at the court of Edward, William now 
prepared to win by his arms, that crown which Harold had 
gained by his address. Thus, to gratify ambition, the 
blood of thousands was to flow; and the peaceful cottage, 
the habitation of the industrious peasant, to become, the 
abode of the afflicted widow and her helpless orphans. 

The Normans were, at this time, the most renowned 
people in Europe; having been inured to the fatigue's 
of military duty in successive campaigns, under captains 
of the greatest experience and abilities. The emperor, 
Iienry the fourth, besides giving his vassals permission to 
eir bark in the intended expedition, promised his protection 
to the dutchy of Normandy, during the absence of the 
prince; and, thereby, enabled him to draw his whole force 
to the attack upon England. He was also supported by 
the approbation of the pope; who, to encourage the duke 
in his enterprise, sent him a consecrated banner, and a ring, 
in which was one of St. Peter’s hairs—at least so it was 
denominated. 

William had now assembled a fleet of three-thousand 
vessels, and selected, from his numerous supplies, an army 
of sixty-thousand men. During these mighty preparations, 
he had induced Harold’s brother, Tosti, and the king of 
Norway, to make a descent upon England ; which they ac¬ 
complished. A sanguinary battle ensuing, near Stamford- 
bridge, in Yorkshire, they were both killed, and their ar 
mies entirely routed; but Harold’s victory served greatly 
to reduce the strength of his own forces, and render them 
less capable of opposing the threatened invasion. 

Without having experienced any opposition in his pass¬ 
age, the duke landed at Pevensey, in Sussex, and quietly 

14 Oct c ^ sem ^ ar ^ ec ^ fc> rc es. A great battle took 
place at Hastings; and after a well contested ac¬ 
tion, in which all the energies of the respective command¬ 
ers were displayed, and Harold and his two brothers, killed, 
the Normans were victorious. 

Although the loss sustained by the English, in this mem¬ 
orable engagement, was considerable, yet it might easily 
have been repaired, had the resources of the nation been 
skilfully concentrated, and vigorously applied. Unfortu¬ 
nately, the people, by their long subjection to the Danes, 
had lost all national pride and spirit; Edgar Atheling, the 
only heir of the Saxon line, was considered as unfit to gov¬ 
ern them, even in times of tranquillity and order, therefore 
totally incapable of repairing their recent losses; and the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


37 


duke was allowed to complete his conquest, with little oppo¬ 
sition, except from two powerful earls, Edwin and Morcars 
who, in concert with Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury, 
having proclaimed Edgar, king, used their utmost endeav¬ 
ours to stop the progress of the invaders. Their exer¬ 
tions, however, were ineffectual, and they retiied with their 
troops to their own provinces; after which, the people 
unanimously yielded to the victor. As soon as William 
had reached Berkhamstead, the primate made submission 
to him; and before he came within view of London, all the 
chief nobility, and Edgar Atheling himself, the newly elect¬ 
ed king, (the only remaining prince of the royal blood,) 
went into his camp, and tendered him the crown; of which, 
with apparent reluctance, he accepted. 

Thus, ended the Saxon monarchy in England, after con¬ 
tinuing more than six-hundred years. 


CHAPTER IX. 

William\ the Conqueror , William Rufus , Henry the First , 

Stephen. 

WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 

1066—1087. 

THE victory gained by William at Hastings, was over 
the person of Harold, and not over the rights of the Eng¬ 
lish nation. Edward the Confessor having died without 
issue, the competitors for the crown were Edgar Atheling, 
Harold, and the duke of Normandy. Edgar had not ca¬ 
pacity to sway the sceptre; and the succession of kings 
was not then decided by any invariable rule. Harold was 
a subject, and had no legal claim. William was related 
to Edward, and urged the wishes of this prince that he 
should succeed him. His victory, accordingly, gave him 
the title of a successor, and not a conqueror; and, that the 
quarrel was personal, appears from the circumstance that 
William offered to decide the dispute with Harold, by 
single combat. 

What, we call purchase , was, in the feudal law, called 
conquest y both denoting any means of acquiring an estate, 
D 2 


i 


3S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

out of the common course of inheritance: and this is still 
ihe proper term in the law of Scotland; as it was amongst 
the Norman jurists; who styled the first purchaser (that 
is, him who first brought the estate into the family which 
at present owns it) the conqueror. 

Westminster Abbey was the place appointed for the 
magnificent ceremony of the coronation; and the mos 
considerable nobility, both English and Norman, attended 
on this important occasion. Aldred, archbishop of York 
by whom, rather than by the prelate of Canterbury, Wil 
liam chose to be consecrated, demanded of the English no¬ 
bility, whether they would accept of William as their king. 
The bishop of Constance put the same question to the 
Normans. Both having agreed, by acclamations, the arch¬ 
bishop administered the usual coronation oath: by which, 
he bound himself to protect the church, to administer jus¬ 
tice, and repress violence. After this, he anointed him* 
and placed the crown upon his head. At that instant, the 
Norman soldiers, who were stationed without, in order to 
guard the church, hearing the shouts within, and fearing 
that the English were committing violence on their prince, 
assaulted the populace, and set fire to the neighbouring 
.houses. The alarm was conveyed to the nobility who sur¬ 
rounded the king; and it was with difficulty that he him¬ 
self could appease the tumult. 

Besides the usual coronation oath, William swore that 
he would govern by the laws of the Confessor; and, for 
this purpose, he summoned twelve Englishmen from every 
county, to ascertain what these laws were; because the 
greater part of them had not been written, but were the 
ancient customs of the realm. He also established justices 
of the peace. His own army, in particular, was governed 
with severe discipline; and the greatest care was taken to 
curb the insolence of recent victory. Yet, amidst this ap¬ 
parent friendship for his new subjects, he took care to place 
all power in the hands of the Normans, and still keep pos¬ 
session of the sword,to which he was indebted for his crown. 

Anxious to revisit his native country, he now de¬ 
parted for Normandy; and, that the kingdom might, 
in his absence, be exposed to less danger, he carried with 
him Edgar Atheling and the principal nobility of Eng¬ 
land ; who served both to increase the splendour of his 
court, and remain as hostages for the fidelity of their coun¬ 
trymen But the rapacity of the Normans, which had been 
restrained by the rigour of their sovereign; and the tend- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


30 

ency to revolt, which had been prevented by his vigilance; 
soon began to appear: conspiracies were formed, hostilities 
commenced in many places, and every thing menaced a 
1 e\olution, as sudden as that which had placed William on 
the throne. 

Upon the first intelligence of these commotions, he hast¬ 
ened back to England, disconcerted all the plans of the 
confederates, confiscated their estates, and assigned them 
to his Norman captains. 

1 his measure, whilst it gratified his rapacious followers, 
increased the number of his enemies. His attention was 
soon required by an insurrection in the north. At the head 
oi this patriotic struggle, were Edwin and Morcar; who 
had stipulated for aid, from Blethin, prince of North W T ales, 
Malcolm, king of Scotland, and Sweyn, king of Denmark. 
But William, knowing the importance of celerity, advanced 
by forced marches, reached \ ork before his enemies were 
prepared for resistance, or were joined by any of the foreign 
succours, except a small body from Whales, and obliged the 
two earls to make an unconditional surrender. 

_ The following year, he was again disturbed. An inva¬ 
sion was made by Godwin, Edmund, and Magnus; three 
sons of Harold; who, after the defeat at Hastings, had 
sought refuge in Ireland. Having met with a kind recep¬ 
tion from Dermot, and other princes of that country, they 
prepared an expedition against England, and landed in 
Devonshire. But Brian, son of the count of Brittany, was 
here ready to oppose them. Several actions ensued, in 
which the invaders were unsuccessful; and they were oblig¬ 
ed, after great loss, to return into Ireland. 

^ was at P er * oc ^ that William introduced 
into England the feudal system. Finding himself 
entirely master of the English people, he determined to 
reduce them to a condition, in which they could no longer 
be formidable to his government. He divided nearly all 
the lands of the kingdom into baronies, and conferred them 
(with the reservation of stated services and payments) on 
the most considerable of his adventurers. These great 
barons shared the principal part of their lands with other 
foreigners, who were called knights, or vassals; and who 
paid their lords the same duty and submission, in peace 
and in war, which the lords themselves owed to their sove¬ 
reign. The whole country contained about seven hundred 
chief tenants, and sixty thousand knights. But, as none of 
the English were admitted into the first rank, the few wh> 


40 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 

retained tlieir landed property, were glad to be receiv ed in¬ 
to the second, and live under the protection of some power¬ 
ful Norman. It was a fixed maxim, in this reign, that no 
one born in the island should ever be advanced to any dig¬ 
nity—civil, military, or ecclesiastical; and the natives wcie 
universally reduced to such a state of poverty and mean¬ 
ness, that the English name became a term of reproach. 

But William reserved a very ample revenue for the 
crown, and retained for himself upwards ot fourteen-hun¬ 
dred manors; which paid him rent, either in money, or in 
corn, cattle, and the usual produce of the land: and, not 
contented with the large forests, which the former kings 
possessed, in all parts of England, he resolved to make a 
new forest, near Winchester, the usual place of his resi¬ 
dence; and, for this purpose, he laid waste the country in 
Hampshire, for an extent of thirty miles, expelled the in¬ 
habitants from their houses, seized their property, even de¬ 
molished churches and convents, and made the sufferers 
not the smallest compensation. The killing of a deer or a 
boar, was punished with the loss of the delinquent’s eyes; 
at a time, when the killing of a man could be atoned for 
by paying a moderate fine. 

No sooner was the Norman prince established on the 
throne, than the pope, with the concurrence of William, 
despatched into England, the bishop of Sion, as his legate; 
who was the first prelate .that had ever appeared in that 
character in the kingdom. The bishops, under frivolous 
charges of irregularity, were, soon afterwards, by liis dic¬ 
tation, deprived of their respective sees. The bishop of 
Worcester was the only English prelate who remained in 
possession of his dignity. It is said, however, that he, al¬ 
so, was removed; but, refusing to deliver his pastoral staff 
and ring, to any except the person from whom he had first 
received it, he went immediately (so it is related by the 
monkish historians) to Edward the Confessor’s tomb, and 
struck the staff so deeply into the stone, that no one except 
himself, could pull it out; upon which, he was allowed to 
resume his office. 

In addition to his other innovations, this monarch enter¬ 
tained even the difficult project of abolishing the English 
language; and, for that purpose, ordered, that, in all schools, 
the youth should be instructed in the French tongue. The 
pleadings in the supreme courts were in French: the laws 
were written in that idiom: no other language was used at 
court: it became fashionable in all the higher circles; a 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


4 


policy, to wliu h is chiefly to be attributed, the mixture of 
French, at present to be found in the English language. 

After quelling an insurrection of the barons in 
England, and a revolt of his son Robert in Nor¬ 
mandy, William had leisure to begin and finish a survey 
of all the lands in the kingdom. He appointed commis¬ 
sioners to ascertain the quantity and the various qualities 
of land in each district, with the names of the proprietors; 
and, in many counties, the number and specification of the 
inhabitants: which great undertaking was completed in six 
years; and the particulars were noted in what is called 
Domesday-Book. This monument, the most valuable 
piece of antiquity possessed by any nation, is still pre¬ 
served in the Exchequer in London.* 

Having reached the sixty-third year of his age, William 
died on the Continent, at the monastery of St. Gervais, in 
consequence of a hurt received when riding; in the twenty- 
first year after the conquest of England, and the fifty-fourth 
of his reign over Normandy. He left three sons: Robert, 
William, and Henry. 

The Normans introduced into England the use of sur¬ 
names. 

The best historian of this age, was Ingulphus, abbot of 
Croyland ; who wrote a history of his abbey, interspersed 
with much general information. 

WILLIAM RUFUS. 

1087—1100. 

William, surnamed Rufus, from the colour of his hair, 
which was of a reddish hue, though the second son, as¬ 
cended the throne by the will of his father; Robert, the 
eldest, having succeeded to the dutchy of Normandy. The 
appointment, however, caused considerable discontent, 
amongst the Norman barons; who generally possessed large 
estates both in England and their own country. They fore¬ 
saw, that it would be impossible for them long to preserve 
their allegiance to two masters; and that they must, ulti¬ 
mately, resign either their ancient property, or their new 

* The cities appear, by Domesday-book, to have been little more, 
in extent, than villages. York, itself, though, at that period, the 
second city in England, contained only 1418 houses; INonvich, 738, 
Exeter, 315; Ipswich, 538; Northampton, 60; Hertford, 146; Can 
terbury, 262; Bath, 64; Southampton, 84; Warwick, 113. 


42 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


acquisitions. A comparison, also, of the personal qualities 
of the two brothers, led them to give a preference to the 
elder. The duke was brave, sincere, and generous; and, 
even his predominant defect, extreme indolence, was not 
disagreeable to those haughty soldiers, who were fond of 
independence, and submitted with reluctance to a rigorous 
administration in their sovereign. The king, though 
equally brave, wai violent, haughty, and tyrannical. He 
seemed disposed to govern, more by the fear, than by the 
love, of his people. An insurrection ensued: but William, 
by the vigorous measures which he adopted, soon reduced 
the disaffected to obedience, banished the promoters of this 
sedition, and divided their estates amongst the barons who 
had remained faithful. 

Actuated by a criminal ambition, he now thought of 
wresting from his brother the clutchy of Normandy; and 
appeared there with a formidable army. An accommoda¬ 
tion, however, took place. It was agreed, that William 
should be put in possession of Eu, the town of Aumale, 
and other places: but, in return, he promised to assist his 
brother in subduing Maine, which had rebelled; and to 
restore the barons to their forfeited estates in England 

A dispute having arisen between Henry, on the one side, 
and Robert and William, on the other, Henry retired into 
a strong fortress on the coast of Normandy; in which, he 
was attacked by the two brothers. When nearly reduced 
by a scarcity of water, Robert, hearing of his distress, grant¬ 
ed him leave to supply himself, and also sent him some 
pipes of wine, for his own table. Being reproved by Wil¬ 
liam for this ill-timed generosity, he replied : %i What! 
shall I suffer my brother to die of thirst? Where, shall we 
find another, when he is gone ?” T he king, also, performed 
an act of generosity, which was less suitable toTtis charac 
ter. Riding, out one day, alone, to take a survey of the 
loitiess. he was attacked by two soldiers, and dismounted. 
One of these drew his sword, in order to despatch him ; 
when, William exclaimed: “Hold, knave! I am the king 
of England.” The soldier suspended his blow; and, having 
i espcctfully 1 aised the king from the ground, received a 
handsome reward, and was taken into his service. 

Prince Henry, being soon after obliged to capitulate, 
wandered about, for some time, in great poverty. 
i096. Ibis period is memorable for the commence¬ 
ment ol the Crusades, which now engrossed the 
attention of Europe; and may be ranked as the most re- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


43 


markable monument of human folly, that ever was raised 
by superstition. The appellation of Crusaders was given 
to the deluded votaries of this mad enthusiasm, from the 
figure of a cross affixed by each to his right shoulder. 
All orders of men deemed the crusades the only road to 
Heaven. The greatest criminals were forward in a ser 
vice, w (lich they regarded as a propitiation for every crime 
Even women, concealing their sex under the disguise of 
armour, attended the camp of these warriors; who sought 
to wrest from the Mahometans, the city of Jerusalem, or 
breathe their last in sight of that place where their Saviour 
nad died. How much better might they have fulfilled the 
injunctions of their sacred Master, by practising, at home, 
the duties of morality and peace! 

Impelled by the general frenzy, the king’s brother, Ro¬ 
bert, had early enlisted in the crusade. Being, however, in 
want of money, he mortgaged his dominions to the king of 
England; and William was, accordingly, put in possession 
of Normandy and Maine. But he did not many years sur¬ 
vive this continental acquisition. In the thirteenth year 
of his reign, and fortieth of his age, when engaged in his 
favourite amusement of hunting, in the New Forest, in 
Hampshire, a French gentleman, named Walter Tyrel, hav¬ 
ing aimed at a stag which suddenly started before him, his 
arrow, glancing from a tree, struck the king in the breast, 
and instantly killed him. His body was buried by the coun¬ 
try-people, without any pomp or ceremony, at Winchester. 
His courtiers neglected to perform the last duties, to a 
monarch who was so little beloved. They were too much 
occupied in the more profitable employment of choosing 
his successor, to allow their attending the funeral of a 
dead sovereign. 

A fashion prevailed, in this age, in England, and through¬ 
out Europe, amongst both men and women, to wear shoes 
of enormous length, to draw the toe to a sharp point, and 
affix the figure of a bird’s bill, or a similar ornament, which 
was turned upwards, and was often sustained by gold or 
silver chains, tied to the knee. The clergy declaimed, with 
great vehemence, against this fashion; which, they said, 
was an attempt to bely the Scripture, where it is affirmed, 
that no man can add a cubit to his stature. They even 
assembled synods, who condemned it. But, though the 
clergy, at that time,could overturn thrones, and had authori¬ 
ty sufficient to send a million of men on the crusades, they 
could never prevail against these long-pointed shoes 


4 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


The monuments which remain in England of this prince, 
are Westminster Hall, and London Bridge; both of which 
were built by his directions. - The Tower, also, was origi¬ 
nally founded by him: but the present superstructure of 
that fortress was erected at.the close of the fourteenth 
century, by Richard II. 


HENRY THE FIRST. 

1100—1135. 

The throne was immediately occupied by Henry, the 
youngest son of the Conqueror, and the younger brother 
of the late king. Robert was absent at Jerusalem; where, 
he distinguished himself, by his extraordinary courage, as 
well as by that affable disposition and unbounded generosi¬ 
ty, which qualify a prince to shine in a military profession. 

As Henry easily foresaw, that a crown, usurped against 
all rules of justice, would sit very unsteadily on his head, 
he resolved, by fail appearances, to gain the affection of 
his subjects. He voluntarily made a charter, which was 
calculated to remove many grievous oppressions under 
which the people had long laboured. In this instrument, 
he promised, that upon the death of any carl, baron, or 
military tenant, his heir should be admitted to the posses¬ 
sion oi his estate, on paying a just and reasonable sum to 
the crown. He also remitted the wardship of minors, and 
the right of giving any heiress in marriage, without the ad¬ 
viceol all the barons; restored the Anglo-Saxon laws, as 
confirmed in a charter by Edward the Confessor, (the same 
that the first William had sworn to observe) and made 
several other concessions, favourable to the property and 
liberty of the subject. But, when he had gained his pur¬ 
pose, he never once thought, during his whole reign, of 
observing a single article of it. 

Robert, who, shortly after his brother’s death, had return¬ 
ed to Normandy, took possession of that dutchy; and com¬ 
menced preparations to enable him to gain the English 
tnrone, ol which, in his absence, he had been deprived. 
He landed with his troops at Portsmouth; but an accom¬ 
modation ensued. It was agreed, that Robert should re¬ 
sign his claim to England, in consideration of an annual 
pension; and, that if either of the princes died without is¬ 
sue, the other should succeed to his dominions. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


45 


j jgg Henry was the first to infringe the treaty. He 
made an attack on Normandy; in the conquest of 
which ne succeeded, after a severe battle at Tenchebray; 
where, Robert was made prisoner. This unfortunate prince 
was detained in custody during the remainder of his life, 
which was twenty-eight years, in the castle of Cardiff, in 
Glamorganshire. Thus, are the bonds of kindred affection 
rent asunder, by the furious impulse of a detestable am¬ 
bition. Edgar Atheling, also, who had accompanied Ro¬ 
bert to Jerusalem, was amongst the prisoners taken, by 
the king, at Tenchebray. He gave him his liberty, and 
settled a small pension on him; with which, having re¬ 
tired, he lived to an advanced age in England, totally neg¬ 
lected and forgotten; such was the indifference with which 
he was viewed, from his want of talent. 

Henry died suddenly in Normandy, in the sixty-seventh 
year of his age, and thirty-fifth of his reign; leaving his 
daughter, the empress Matilda, heiress of his dominions. 
This prince, in point of mental attainments, and abilities 
in general, was one of the most accomplished that ever 
filled the British throne; and by his great progress in 
literature, he acquired the name of Beau-clerc, or the 
scholar. He made canals for joining navigable rivers, and 
granted a charter to London; which seems to have been 
the first step towards rendering that city a corporation. 

During his whole reign, the nation was disturbed by 
violent contentions with the court of Rome. A synod, 
convened at Westminster, passed a vote, prohibiting the 
laity from wearing long hair. The aversion of the clergy 
to this mode, was not confined to England. When the king 
went over into Normandy, before he had conquered that 
province, the bishop of Seez, in a formal harangue, earnest¬ 
ly besought him to redress the manifold disorders under 
which the government laboured, and to oblige the people 
to cut their hair in a decent form. Henry, though he would 
not resign his prerogatives to the church, was very willing 
to part with his hair: he cut it in the required form, and 
obliged all the courtiers to imitate his example. 


46 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


STEPHEN. 

1135 — 1154 . 

The irregular manner in which Henry had acquired the 
crown, might have taught that prince how little regard 
would be shown to the injunctions of a will; and the casu¬ 
istry of the age, how little respect to the oaths of fealty, 
sworn, by the barons, both of Normandy and England, to 
Matilda. Indeed, no nation of Europe had ever seen a 
crown on the head of a female; and Spain was then the 
only country that had ever had a king who claimed in a 
female right. His nephew, Stephen of Blois, maternal 
grandson of the Conqueror, had, by the friendship of the 
late king, gained, in England, great riches, honours, and 
preferments; and no sooner had Henry expired, than he 
hastened over from the Continent, and, by the influence of 
his wealth and dignities, got possession of the throne. 

But Stephen, though he now wielded a sceptre, did not 
enjoy it in tranquillity. He felt a large share of those in 
quietudes, with which Providence is pleased, abundantly, 
to visit the palaces of kings. The barons, in return for 
their submission, had exacted most exorbitant demands; 
equally destructive of the royal authority, and the peace of 
the community. Many of these required the right of for¬ 
tifying their castles, and increasing their defences; so that 
all England was immediately filled with those fortresses, 
which they garrisoned with their vassals, or with licentious 
soldiers that flocked to them from every quarter. 

Robert., earl of Gloucester, natural son of the late king, 
was a man of honour and ability, and much attached to the 
interests of Matilda. From this nobleman, Stephen had 
much to fear. Having arranged the project of an insur¬ 
rection, he retired to the Continent, sent the king a defi¬ 
ance, solemnly renounced his allegiance, and upbraided 
nim with a breach of the conditions which had been annex¬ 
ed to his oath of fealty. Her uncle, David, king of Scot¬ 
land, took the field in defence of Matilda’s title; and, pene¬ 
trating into Yorkshire, committed most barbarous devasta¬ 
tions. The fury of his massacre and ravages enraged the 
northern nobility, who might, otherwise, have been inclined 
to join him; and the earl of Albermarle, William Percy, 
Robert de Brus, and other powerful barons, assembled 
an army, with which they encamped at North-Aller- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


47 

ton ; where a great engagement took place, in which the 
king ot Scots was routed, and very narrowly escaped fall 
ing into the hands of his enemies. 

1139 Matilda, accompanied by the earl of Gloucester, 
now landed in England, and fixed her residence at 
Arundel Castle; where she was joined by many ot the 
barons, with their numerous vassals. An engagement too* 
place at Lincoln; in which, Stephen was made prisoner. 
Matilda was shortly after crowned at Winchester; and, 
though she experienced great opposition from the citizens 
ot London, yet, by the aid of the clergy, whose favours had 
been gained by concessions, she brought them to submit. 

But, another revolution shortly followed. By a concur¬ 
rence of events, which it would be tedious to enumerate, 
and which, if related, would be devoid of interest, Stephen 
was released from prison, and Matilda was under the ne¬ 
cessity of retiring from the kingdom. Although, however, 
the king had gained his liberty, he can scarcely be said, at 
this time, to have reascended the throne. He had to con¬ 
tend, not only with powerful opposition from many of the 
nobles, but also with the anathemas of the pope. 

Seizing the favourable opportunity now afforded, prince 
Henry, son of Matilda, made an invasion; and, having 
gained some advantages over Stephen, compelled him to 
listen to an accommodation. It was agreed, that Stephen 
should possess the crown during his life, and that Henry 
should succeed him. The death of the king, which hap¬ 
pened in the next year, prevented all those quarrels and 
jealousies which were likely to ensue in so delicate a situa¬ 
tion ; as it is not very probable, that the young prince 
would have patiently waited for an event, which he himself 
might not survive. 

The historians of this period, were William of Malms- 
bury, and Peter of Blois. On the authority of the latter, 
it appears, that London then contained only forty-thousand 
inhabitants. The Saxon language now assumed in Eng¬ 
land, a form, in which may plainly be discovered the be 
ginning of the present English. 


4S 


l 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


CHAPTER X, 

CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 


Henry the second, Richard the first, John, Henry the third, Ed¬ 
ward the first, Edward the second , Edward the third , Rich¬ 
ard the second . 

HENRY THE SECOND 
1154 — 1189 . 

THIS prince was about twenty-one years of age when 
he ascended the British throne. In his person, the fami¬ 
lies of the Saxon and Norman monarchs were united; his 
mother being the grand niece of Edgai Atheling, and a 
lineal descendant of Edmund Ironside. He was master, in 
right of his father, the earl of Anjou Plantagenet, of Tou- 
raine, Anjou, and Maine: he inherited from his mother 
Matilda, Normandy; obtained by his wife, Perigord, Poic- 
tou, Guienne, Xaintogne, Auvergne, Limousin, and Angou- 
mois; and. soon after, annexed Brittany to his other states. 
These provinces composed above a third of the whole 
French monarchy; and were much superior, in extent and 
resources, to those territories which were under the imme¬ 
diate jurisdiction of the king of France. Henry was the 
greatest prince of his time, for wisdom, virtue, and politi 
cal ability; and the most powerful, in extent of dominion, 
that had ever worn the crown of England. His character, 
in private, as well as in public life, is almost without blem¬ 
ish. He was of a middle stature—strong, and well pro¬ 
portioned : his countenance was lively and engaging; his 
conversation, affable and entertaining; his elocution, easy, 
persuasive, and always at command. He loved peace, but 
possessed both bravery and conduct in war. 

As the king, and all the English barons, were of French 
extraction, the manners of the latter gradually acquired 
the ascendance. All foreign improvements, therefore, such 
as they were, in literature and politeness, in laws and in 
arts, seem then, in a great measure, transplanted into Eng¬ 
land ; and this country soon rivaled her continental neigh¬ 
bours, in the fashionable accomplishments of the age. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


49 


A dispute having arisen respecting the occupation of 
Nantz, Henry, lest Louis, the French king, should inter¬ 
pose against him in the controversy, paid that monarch a 
visit; and pleased him so much by his deportment, that an 
alliance was contracted. They agreed, that young Heniy, 
heir of the British throne, should be affianced to Margaret 
of France; though the former was only five years ol age, 

and the latter was yet in her cradle. 

The usurpations of the clergy, which had, here- 
1162 * tofore, been gradual, were now so rapid and alarm¬ 
ing, that it seemed necessary to determine, whether the 
king or the ecclesiastics, particularly the archbishop ot 
Canterbury, should have the political ascendency. 1 he 
high spirit of Henry, was not likely to pay a tame submis¬ 
sion to their encroachments. The most remarkable person¬ 
age in these contentions, was the celebrated Thomas a Beck- 
et; the first man of English pedigree, who, since the I^oi- 
man Conquest, had risen to any considerable station; and 
who, by natural ability, improved by experience; and by 
intrigue and affected austerity; raised himself, from an 
humble station, to the exalted dignity of chancellor ol the 
kingdom, prime minister, and, ultimately, to that ol arch¬ 
bishop of Canterbury. In addition to these great employ¬ 
ments, he received also the income of two extensive baro¬ 
nies; and, to complete his grandeur, was intrusted with the 
education of the king’s eldest son. The pomp of his retinue, 
the luxury of his table, and the munificence of his presents, 
corresponded to these great preferments; or, rather, ex¬ 
ceeded any thing which England had ever, before, witness¬ 
ed in any subject. His historian and secretary, r itz-S e- 
nhen, mentions, amongst other particulars, that his apait- 
ments were every day, in winter, covered with clean straw 
or hay; and, in summer, with green rushes or boughs: lest 
the gentlemen who paid their court to him, and who could 
not, by reason of their great number, find a place at table 
should soil their fine clothes by sitting on a dirty floor.— 
That, however, in those days, when carpets were not used 
even in the royal palace, was considered as effeminate re¬ 
finement. He employed himself, at leisure hours, m hunt 
ing, hawking, and gaming; and maintained, during forty 
days, in one of the king’s wars in Normandy, twelve-hun 
dred knights and four-thousand of their tiain. 

Henry, himself, partook of his entertainments An 
amusing instance of their familiarity is mentioned; which 
forcibly displays the manners of that age. One day, as tin 
E 2 


50 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


king, and Becket were riding in the str ts of London, they 
observed a beggar, who was shivering ithcold: “Would 
it not be very praiseworthy,” said the king, “to give that 
poor man a warm coat, in this severe weather?” “It would, 
surely,” replied the chancellor; “and you do well, sir, in 
thinking of so good an action.” “ Then he shall have one 
presently,” replied the king; and, seizing the skirts of 
Bucket’s coat, he began to pull it violently. Becket de¬ 
fended himself for some time; and both had nearly fallen 
oft their horses, when the chancellor, after a vehement 
struggle, let go his coat; which the king gave to the beg¬ 
gar: who, being ignorant of their persons, was not a little 
surprised at the present. 

At this time, however, Becket had not attained the sum¬ 
mit of his elevation. But, when afterwards he received 
from Henry the exalted honours of the see of Canterbury 
which rendered him, for life, the second person in the king¬ 
dom, he totally altered his demeanour, and endeavoured to 
retrieve that character of sanctity, which his former osten¬ 
tation had impaired. He immediately resigned all his civil 
employments; intimating, that, thenceforth, he must be 
solely occupied in the exercise of his religious functions. 
Although he still retained, in his retinue and attendants, 
his accustomed pomp and lustre, which were useful to 
strike the vulgar, yet. in his own person, he affected the 
most rigid mortification. He wore sackcloth next his skin; 
his usual diet was bread; his drink, water; which he had 
rendered unpalatable by the mixture of unsavoury herbs: 
he tore his back by the frequent scourgings which he in¬ 
flicted on it; and daily, on his knees, washed the feet of 
thirteen beggars, whom he afterwards dismissed with 
presents. 

These austerities, could not, however, deceive men of 
penetration. They easily foresaw, that he meditated some 
great design; and that his ambition had directed him to¬ 
wards a new and more dangerous experiment. 

The ecclesiastics, in that age, had renounced all subor¬ 
dination to the magistrates: they openly pretended to an 
exemption, in criminal accusations, from a trial before 
courts of justice, and were gradually introducing a similar 
exemption in civil causes; and, as the clergy had extreme¬ 
ly multiplied in England, and many of them were, conse¬ 
quently, of very low characters, murders, and robberies, 
and other crimes of the deepest die, were daily committed 
by them, with impunity 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


51 


The most inquisitive reader would be wearied by a recital 
of the successive encroachments of the primate, and the 
endeavours of the sovereign to resist their effects. Henry, 
seizing a favourable opportunity, resolved to determine, at 
once, the increasing controversies between the civil and 
the ecclesiastical jurisdiction. He therefore summoned 
an assembly of all the prelates in the kingdom; and put 
to them this plain and decisive question: Whether they 
were willing to submit to the ancient laws and customs of 
England ? The bishops unanimously replied, That they 
were willing, saving their own order. 

This evasion served only to inflame the king’s resent¬ 
ment. He was not to be diverted from his purpose. In the 
following year, he convened, at Clarendon, a general council 
of the nobility and prelates; to whom he submitted the im¬ 
portant decision of the present alarming differences. The 
barons having been gained to the king’s party, the bishops 
became overawed; and a body of laws, called the Constitu¬ 
tions of Clarendon, were agreed to, without opposi- 
1164 ‘ tion. It was enacted, that clergymen accused of 
any crime should be tried by the civil power: that laymen 
should not be indicted in spiritual courts, except by legal 
and reputable witnesses: that the bishops, and other spirit¬ 
ual dignitaries, should be regarded as barons of the realm, 
and be bound to assist at trials, and attend the king in his 
great councils; and that goods forfeited to the king should 
not be protected in churches or church yards. 

Although Becket himself subscribed to these articles, it 
does not appear, that he, in the least degree, relaxed from 
his usual struggles in favour of the clerical supremacy. 
Henry and the primate were almost perpetually at vari¬ 
ance ; he was at length banished from the kingdom; and, 
although, after a compromise had been effected, he was 
allowed to return, yet, still, the controversy was repeated. 
He filled all places with exclamations against the violence 
which he had suffered, excommunicated the king’s minis¬ 
ters, by name, and every one that obeyed the constitutions 
of Clarendon; absolved all persons from the oaths which 
they had taken to observe them; and even told Henry that 
kings reign solely by the authority of the church. 

The king, when on the continent, being one day 
1170 vehemently agitated, burst forth into an exclama 
tion against his servants; whose want .of zeal, he said, had 
left him so long exposed to the enterprises of that ungrate¬ 
ful and imperious prelate. Four officers of his household, 


52 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


taking these passionate expressions as a hint for Becket’s 
death, swore to revenge their prince’s quarrel, and secretly 
withdrew from court The king, apprehensive of their 
design, despatched after them a messenger; charging them 
to attempt nothing against the person of the primate. But 
these orders arrived too late. Becket had been assassinat¬ 
ed in the cathedral church of Canterbury. In this manner, 
did his rashly officious friends, seek a remedy for evil, in 
the commission of one of the most horrid crimes of which 
man can be guilty; and plunge, into the severest affliction, 
him, whose troubles they had sought to alleviate. 

Though Henry had acquitted his own conscience from 
desiring the assassination of Becket, he was extremely 
alarmed, lest he might incur the anathemas of the court of 
Rome. The Thursday before Easter was now approach¬ 
ing, when it is customary for the pope to denounce annual 
curses against all his enemies; and it was expected that 
Henry would be solemnly comprehended amongst the num¬ 
ber: but an ambassador, sent hastily forward, found means 
to appease the pontiff, and artfully to elude the blow. 

Two years after his death, Becket was sainted by the 
pope, his body was removed to a magnificent shrine, en¬ 
riched with presents from all parts of Christendom ; and, 
in one year, above a hundred-thousand pilgrims arrived at 
Canterbury, and paid devotions at his tomb. 

We shall now proceed to the most important, but not 
the most pleasing, event, in the history of this reign—the 
invasion and subjection of Ireland. 

1 hough it is foreign to the plan of the present work, to 
devote an equal degree of attention to Irish affairs, as to 
those ol England, yet, viewing as we do, the greatness of 
the attainment to the British crown, it seems proper to 
give at least a cursory sketch, of the ancient state of so 
celebrated an island. 

When we examine the remote histories of England, Scot¬ 
land, and Ireland, and find names and facts given with un¬ 
hesitating confidence, and apparent chronological accuracy, 
it seems, at first sight, an unreasonable degree of scepti¬ 
cism, to withhold our assent, or question their authenti¬ 
city ; however, a minuter inquiry, evinces them to be, in 
general, but specious delusions—the inventions of the hu¬ 
man mind. Ireland, unquestionably, at a very early period, 
contained extensive colleges for the reception of literary 
students; but, until after the general revival of letters, if 
we except her music, which was then, as it is now, the 




HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


53 

most delightful in the world, she sent forth no illuminating 
beams of scientific knowledge, or of elegance. Greece 
and Italy, though possessed, in remote ages, of few public 
seminaries of learning, have transmitted, even through the 
gloomy centuries of barbarism, those immortal produc¬ 
tions, which excite the highest admiration, and challenge 
the ablest exertions, of our modern schools. The language 
of the Irish, it maybe said, is no longer a collegiate study. 
The'Greek and Latin, though neither is, at this time, the 
language of a nation, live, from age to age, in the splendid 
pages which they have adorned. Had those crowded acad¬ 
emies of Ireland produced within their walls a Homer or 
a Virgil, an Herodotus or a Livy, the Iberno-Celtic tongue 
would not now be confined to the illiterate vulgar. 

The earliest authentic reference to this island, is by the 
ancient geographer, Strabo. He says, that the position ot 
Ireland, and its distance from the coast of Gaul, were in¬ 
serted in the papers of Eratosthenes, librarian of the 
second Ptolemy, king of Egypt. I his prince flourished 
about two-hundred-and-fifty years before the Christian sera. 
Pliny, also, refers to a map of Ireland, which was placed in 
a portico at Rome, amongst other geographical documents 
collected under the superintendence ol Julius Caesar. I he 
names of Iri, Eri, Erin, with their variations, were ancient¬ 
ly given to this island. Caesar is, we believe, the first Ro¬ 
man writer who mentions it. He calls it Hibernia; proba¬ 
bly from its supposed coldness; hibernus , in Latin, signi¬ 
fying winterly. 

As Britain was first peopled from Gaul, so was Ireland, 
most probably, from Britain. I he inhabitants ol all these 
countries seem to have been so many tribes of the Cel tee, 
who derive their origin from an antiquity far beyond the 
records of any history or tradition. I he ancient language 
of Ireland was what is now called the Gaelic: the same, 
excepting the changes produced by time, that is still used 
by at least three-fourths of the lower classes in that country. 
In many parts of Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, 
dialects of this tongue are still very common; all bearing 
so near an affinity, that the people of one can conveise in¬ 
telligibly with those ot another. 

At this period, besides many small tribes, theie 
1172 ‘ were in the island five principal sovereignties; Mun¬ 
ster, Leinster, Meath, Ulster, and Connaught. Roderick 
O’Connor, king of Connaught, was advanced to the dignity 
of presiding in their councils, and of leading their armies 


54 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

against a foreign enemy; but his government, ill obeyed, 
even within his own territory, was not capable of uniting 
the people in measures for their general defence. The 
following circumstance seems to have hastened the at 
tempts of the British king upon this island, which had 
been previously designed by himself, and sanctioned by the 
Roman pontiff. Dermot M’Murrough, sovereign of Lein¬ 
ster, an odious tyrant, had formed a design on Omach 
wife of Ororic,king of Meath: Ororic,for better security 
during his absence in a distant part of his dominions, had 
placed his queen in an island surrounded by a bog: but 
Dermot, seizing the opportunity, invaded the place, and 
carried off the princess. This immoral and ungenerous 
act, led to his expulsion from the country. He had then 
recourse to Henry; and proposed that if he assisted him 
in recovering his kingdom, he would hold it in vassalage 
of the crown of England. Christianity had been carried 
to Ireland by missions from the ancient Britains; but the 
Irish followed the doctrines of their first teachers, and had 
never acknowledged subjection to the Roman see. Adrian 
the third, therefore, in the year 1156, issued a bull in fa¬ 
vour of Henry; in which, after premising that this prince 
had always been anxious to enlarge the church of God, on 
earth, and to increase the number of his saints in Heaven, 
he exhorts him to invade Ireland, to extirpate the vice and 
wickedness of the natives, and oblige them to pay, yearly 
from every house, a penny to the see of Rome. 

The first hostile party of the British was under the or¬ 
ders of Robert Fitz-Stephen; who landed near Wexford. 
Maurice de Prendergast, Fitzgerald, Raymond, and the 
earl of Strigul, (surnamed Strongbow,) successively fol¬ 
lowed; each with a party under his command. The latter, 
the most renowned of all, landed at Waterford; which he 
immediately subdued. He then proceeded to Dublin; 
which he carried by assault. Henry himself soon arrived, 
with a few hundred men; not so much to conquer a dis- 
outed territory, as to take possession of a subjected king¬ 
dom. Amongst the British adventurers, he distributed 
the lands, which belonged to those leaders who had offend¬ 
ed him by their opposition; and, after a short stay, return¬ 
ed to England; leaving most of the Irish chieftains undis* 
Curbed in their dominions. 

1 he Irish, at that time, were undisciplined, and almost 
entirely without armour ; a mode of personal defence used 
bv theii invaders: to which causes, and their want of union, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 56 

may be attributed the easy victory over a people, inferior 
to none in point of natural bravery and strength. 

Henry died in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and the 
thirty-fifth of his reign His life was shortened by the un¬ 
grateful conduct of his own children, Henry, Richard, and 
John; who, disgracefully aiming to deprive their indulgent 
father of his dominions, embittered his declining years with 
corroding anguish. Two, only, of his sons survived him: 
Richard, who succeeded to the throne; and John, who did 
not inherit any territory; and was thence called Lacland. 

The most industrious writer of this reign was Hovedon. 

RICHARD THE FIRST. 

1189 — 1199 . 

By his r.onduct, when invested with the regal dignity, 
Richard endeavoured to atone for his undutiful behaviour 
to his father. Those who had assisted in his rebellion, in¬ 
stead of meeting with the honour and confidence which 
they had expected, were, on all occasions, hated and des¬ 
pised ; but, the faithful ministers of Henry, were received 
with open arms. 

The events of this reign are unimportant, at the present 
day. Our business is, to give a faithful detail only of those 
transactions that have a tendency to elucidate effects which 
have remained permanent; not to burthen our pages with 
those that should rather be forgotten than remembered. 

The character of Richard displays a strange mixture of 
vice and virtue. He seemed calculated rather to dazzle 
mankind by the splendour of his enterprises, than to pro¬ 
mote the happiness of his people by a well regulated gov¬ 
ernment. No man, even in that romantic age, carried per¬ 
sonal courage to a greater height. It was this quality 
which gained him the appellation of Coeur de Lion , the 
lion-hearted. Shortly after ascending the throne, he joined 
in a crusade to Palestine; where he remained nearly three 
years; shining in every action. The most memorable bat¬ 
tle which then occurred, was fought by the Christians on 
the one side, and Saladin, the renowned emperor of the 
Saracens, on the other; who, by the heroic behaviour of 
Richard, received a signal overthrow. In his return home, 
the king was treacherously detained by Leopold, duke of 
Austria; and for a sum of money, assigned to the emperor 
Henry the sixth ; by whom he was carried into the heart of 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


56 

Germany, and loaded with irons, until ransomed by his 
country. Nor was that the only cause of his unhappiness. 
Prince John, during the captivity ot his brother, made an 
attempt to gain the throne; thus, renewing the disgraceful 
conduct, which had brought his father to the grave. 

Richard, when attacking the castle of Chalus, near Li¬ 
moges, received a mortal wound, in the tenth year of his 
reign, and the forty-second of his age. 

Coats of arms were not introduced into seals, nor indeed 
into any other use, until about the reign of Ridhard; who 
brought them from the Holy Land, where they were first 
invented, and painted on the shields of the knights, to dis¬ 
tinguish the variety of persons, 01 every Christian nation, 
who resorted thither, and could not, when clad in complete 
steel, be otherwise identified. 

This prince established in England a uniformity in 
weights and measures: a useful institution; with which, 
the mercenary disposition of his successor induced him to 
dispense, for money. 

JOHN. 

1199 — 1216 . 

The late king, who died without children, previous to 
his departure for the East, had declared his nephew, Ar¬ 
thur, duke of Brittany, son of his deceased elder brother 
Geoffrey, his successor. But John did not acquiesce in this; 
and Richard, by his last will, appointed him heir to all his 
dominions; probably, because he thought that Arthur, 
then but twelve years of age, was incapable of establishing 
his claim against the faction of his uncle. 

Philip, king of France, desiring an opportunity to em¬ 
barrass John, and disunite his dominions, embraced the 
cause of the young duke, and brought him to Paris, to be 
educated with his own son. 

A war with France shortly after ensued; which was at 
length concluded by the mutual adjustment of disputed 
claims; and, to render the union more durable, John gave 
his niece in marriage to Prince Louis, Philip’s eldest son. 
Nine barons of the king of England, and as many of the 
^ing of France, were guarantees of this treaty; all of 
whom swore, that if their sovereign violated any article 
which it contained, they would declare against him, and 
embrace the cause of the injured monarch. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


5*7 

Now secure, as he imagined, on the side of France, John, 
though his queen was stiii alive, indulged his passion for 
Isabella, the daughter of Aymar, count of Angouleme; a 
lady, who had been contracted to the count De°la Marche 
and was already delivered into his hands; but, by reason of 
her tender years, the marriage had not been consummated. 
Having procured a divorce from his own wife, John es¬ 
poused Isabella; regardless both of the menaces of the 
pope, and the resentment of the count. But the latter 
soon found means to punish his atrocious rival. Taking 
advantage of the general discontent which prevailed against 
John, the enraged husband excited commotions in Poictou 
and Normandy. The king then summoned all the barons 
of England, and required them to assist him on the conti¬ 
nent. But he found that he possessed as little authority, 
there, as in his transmarine dominions. They unanimously 
replied, that they would not attend on this expedition, un¬ 
less he.would promise to restore and preserve their privi¬ 
leges—the first symptom of a regular combination, and 
plan of liberty, amongst those noblemen. Aff airs, however, 
were not yet fully ripe for the projected revolution. John, 
by threatening them, dissolved the association, induced 
many to follow him into Normandy, and compelled those 
who remained behind, to pay for the indulgence. 

He was, for a while, equally successful against the refrac¬ 
tory barons on the continent. But, elated by his superiori¬ 
ty, he advanced claims, which gave universal alarm to his 
vassals, and diffused, still -wider, the general discontent. 
As the jurisprudence in those times, generally required 
that the causes in the lords’ court should be decided by 
duel, he carried with him a number of bravos; whom he 
retained as champions, to fight with his barons in any con¬ 
troversy that he might raise against them. The count De 
la Marche, and other noblemen, regarded this proceeding 
as an insult, as well as an injury; and declared that they 
would never draw their swords against men so inferior in 
quality. The barons having appealed to Philip, their su¬ 
perior lord, that prince espoused their cause; and a new 
and powerful ally soon appeared, to encourage them in ths 
completion of their designs against the British king. 

The young duke of Brittany, aware of the dangerous 
character of his uncle, determined to seek both his security 
and advancement by a union with Philip and the barons. 
The allies, for a while, were invariably successful. In an¬ 
swer to every proposal which the king of England made 
F 


58 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


for peace, Philip still insisted, that he should resign all his 
continental dominions to his nephew. But an event hap¬ 
pened which seemed to turn the scale in lavour oi John. 
Whilst the duke of Brittany was besieging the town of 
Mirabel, in Poictou, his camp was suddenly attacked; and 
he himself, together with La Marche, and the most con¬ 
siderable of the revolted barons, were made prisoners, and 
carried in triumph into Normandy. Philip, who then in¬ 
vested a city in that dutchy, raised the siege, and retired 
on his approach; and John, sensible from the spirited dis¬ 
position of young Arthur, that he might prove a danger¬ 
ous enemy, if he should regain his liberty, murdered him 
with his own hands; and, fastening a stone to the dead 
body, threw it into the Seine! 

All Europe was struck with horror at this inhuman deed. 
From that moment, the king, detested by his subjects, re¬ 
tained a very precarious authority, over both the people 
and the barons. Philip, as his superior lord, summoned 
him to stand a trial; and, on his non-appearance, passed 
sentence, with the concurrence of the peers, declaring him 
guilty of felony, and adjudging him to forfeit all the pro¬ 
vinces which he held in vassalage of the French crown. 
These, Philip entered with a numerous army; and con¬ 
quered Anjou,Touraine, Maine, and Poictou; and reunited 
to the crown of France the whole province of Normandy, 
two-hundred-and-ninety-four years after it had been ceded, 
by Charles the Simple, to Rollo, the Dane, the ancestor of 
William. 

Despised by his army, attacked, on all sides by his ene¬ 
mies, expelled from every province in France, John retreat¬ 
ed into England, with infamy and dishonour. 

That he might cover the disgrace of his own conduct, 
he exclaimed loudly against his barons; who, he said, had 
deserted his standard in Normandy; and, as a punishment 
for this offence, he extorted from, them a seventh part of all 
their moveable estate. Soon after, he forced them to grant 
nim a tax for another expedition. But he did not attempt 
to enter upon the service for which it was exacted. After 
many similar preparations, which ended in the same man 
Tier, he carried his hostile measures a step further; and ac 
tually ventured abroad with an army. Terrified, however, 
by the approach of Philip, he made proposals for peace, 
and fixed a place of interview with his enemy. But, in¬ 
stead of keeping this engagement, he secretly withdrew his 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


59 


forces, embarked at Rochelle, and returned to England, 
loaded with additional disgrace. 

In an age when personal valour was regarded as the chief 
accomplishment, such conduct must have been exposed to 
extreme contempt. But the government exercised by the 
Norman princes, had wound up the royal power to so high 
a pitch, that even still further degradation of the regal dig 
nity seemed necessary, to impel the barons to insurrection. 

A controversy relating to an ecclesiastical election, com¬ 
pleted that odium, which, whilst it debased the sovereign, 
contributed to enlarge the liberties of the subject. The 
pope, without a previous writ from the king, had caused 
Langton to be chosen archbishop of Canterbury; but, 
aware that this usurpation would be highly resented by the 
court of England, he despatched to John four gold rings, 
accompanied by this flattering epistle. “ I beg, my son, 
that you will consider seriously the form of these rings; 
their number, their matter, and their colour. Their form, 
oeing round, is typical of Eternity, which has neither be¬ 
ginning nor end; and you ought, thence, to learn the duty 
of aspiring from earthly objects, to heavenly—from things 
temporal, to things eternal. The number four, being a 
square, denotes Steadiness of Mind; not to be subverted 
by either adversity or prosperity; fixed, for ever, on the 
firm basis of the four cardinal virtues. Gold, which is the 
matter, being the most precious of metals, signifies Wis¬ 
dom ; which is the most valuable of all accomplishments, 
and justly preferred by Solomon, to riches, power, and 
every exterior acquirement. The blue colour of the sap¬ 
phire represents Faith: the verdure of the emerald, Hope: 
the redness of the ruby, Charity; and the splendour of the 
topaz, Good Works.” 

This, however, was not sufficient to appease him. He 
vented his rage against all those who had concurred in the 
irregular instalment; and the pope, on his part, prepared 
to assert his claims by the application of his spiritual 
thunders. The kingdom was, consequently, placed under 
an Interdict; the execution of which was calculated to strike 
the senses in the highest degree, and operate on the mind 
with irresistible force. The nation was suddenly deprived 
of all exterior exercise of religion. The altars were de¬ 
spoiled of their ornaments: the crosses, the relics, the 
images, the statues of the saints, were laid upon the ground; 
and, as if the air itself was profaned, and might pollute 
• them by its contact, the priests carefully covered them up, 




HISTORY OF Ex\GLAND 


even from their own approach and veneration. The use of 
bells entirely ceased in all the churches: mass was celebrat¬ 
ed with closed doors; and none but the priests were allow¬ 
ed to be present at the ceremony. The laity partook of no 
religious rite, except baptism to new-born infants, and the 
communion to the dying: the dead were not interred in 
consecrated ground; they were thrown into ditches, or 
buried in the fields. Marriage was celebrated in the church¬ 
yards; and, that every action in life might bear the marks 
of this dreadful situation, the people were prohibited the 
use of meat, as in lent; were debarred from every pleasure, 
and forbidden to salute each other, or even to shave their 
beards, or give any decent attention to their persons or ap¬ 
parel. Every circumstance carried the appearance of the 
deepest distress, and produced an apprehension of immedi¬ 
ate divine indignation and vengeance. 

Dreadful, however, as this sentence was, the king seems 
to have been less alarmed by it than the pope expected. 
John appeared determined to set him at defiance. The 
pope, therefore, proceeded to issue against him the more 
dreadful sentence of excommunication: he likewise* ab¬ 
solved his subjects from their oath of allegiance; solemnly 
deposed him from his throne; and gave his dominions to 
the king of France. 

But John, was at last induced, after a violent struggle, 
to yield to the pope; and even to submit to the mortifying 
condition of acknowledging himself a vassal of the Roman 
see. Fie resigned his dominions to pope Innocent and his 
successors; and agreed to hold them by the annual pay 
ment of a thousand marks. Fie did homage to Pandolph, 
the pope’s legate, with all thfe submissive forms which the 
feudal law required of vassals before their superior lord. 
Fie came disarmed into the legate’s presence, who was 
seated on a throne; threw himself on his knees before him*, 
lifted up his joined hands, and put them within those of 
Pandolph; swore fealty to the pope; and paid a part of 
the stipulated tribute. 

Such, were the unhappy consequences of John’s homage, 
that the value of English benefices, at one time possessed 
by Italian non-resident priests, exceeded the ordinary reve¬ 
nue of the crown; and the historians of that age tel 1 us, 
that Rome sheared all Europe, but in England she stripped 
off the skin. 

In the mean time, John’s natural inclination to tyranny 
increased. He seemed, wantonly, to disgust all orders of 


61 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

men; especially his nobles; from whom, alone, he coaid 
reasonably expect assistance. He dishonoured their fami¬ 
lies by licentious amours; restrained them from hunting 
feathered game; ordered that all the hedges and fences 
near his forests, should be leveled, to give his deer access 
into the fields for pasture; and continually loaded the na¬ 
tion with arbitrary taxes. He once demanded a large sum 
ol money from aJewoi Bristol; and, on his refusal, order 
ed one oi his teeth to be drawn, every day, until he would 
comply. The Jew allowed seven teeth to be taken, and 
then paid the required amount. 

Enough has been already detailed, to show the necessity 
of reform. We shall now give a summary view of the glo¬ 
rious effects which resulted from this tyranny, when the 
crisis had arrived. 

The barons, having chosen Robert Fitz-Walter for their 
general, took the field, in defence of their honour and their 
liberty. John, being soon left with a very slender retinue, 
was unable to withstand this strenuous attack. A confer¬ 
ence was appointed to be held at Runnemede, between 
Windsor and Staines; a place which has ever since been 
celebrated, on account of this great event. The king and 
j 0 j 5 the barons encamped apart, as open enemies; and, 
after a debate of a few days, John, with a facility 
rather suspicious, signed the contract which was required. 
This famous deed, commonly called MAGNA CHARTA, 
or the Great Charter, either granted or secured very im¬ 
portant liberties and privileges to every order of men in 
the kingdom; to the clergy, to the barons, and to the 
people. 

One clause in this venerable instrument deserves parti¬ 
cular attention; as it formed the germe of the present 
British Parliament; or rather re-established the Saxon 
Wittenagemot, and the great national council, such as it 
was before the Conquest, and such as William had solemn¬ 
ly sworn to maintain: u No scutage or aid shall be imposed, 
but by the great council of the nation; except in the three 
general feudal cases—the king’s captivity, the knighting 
of his eldest son, and the marriage of his eldest daughter: 
the prelates, earls, and great barons, shall be called to this 
great council, each by a particular writ; the lesser barons, 
by a general summons of the sheriff*.” 

The liberties of Englishmen are not (as some arbitrary 
writers would represent them) mere infringements on the 
king’s prerogative, extorted from their princes, by taking 
F 2 


02 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 

advantage of their weakness; but a restoration of their an 
cient constitution, of which their ancestors had been de¬ 
frauded, by the art and finesse of the Norman lawyers, 
rather than by the force of the Norman arms. 

John died in the castle of Newark-upon-Trent, in the 
forty-ninth year of his age, and the eighteenth of his reign. 
I-Ie left two legitimate sons; Henry and Richard; the for¬ 
mer nine, the latter only seven years old. 

It was in this reign, that the citizens of London procur¬ 
ed a charter, which conferred on them the right of choos¬ 
ing, annually, a mayor, out of their own body; that office, 
previously, having been held lor life. I hey also obtained 
the power to elect and remove their sheriffs at pleasure; 
and their common-council-men every year. London Bridge 
was finished in this reign; being erected on the site ol a 
previous structure which was of wood. 

HENRY THE THIRD. 

1216 — 1272 . 

The concession of the Great Charter, or rather its full 
establishment, for there was a considerable interval be¬ 
tween the one and the other, introduced a degree of order 
and justice into the administration. Yet this charter made 
no provision for the creation of new courts, or magistrates, 
or senates, nor for the abolition of the old. It made no in¬ 
novation in the public law of the kingdom. It only en¬ 
forced the operation of those laws which already existed. 
The barbarous license of the king, and perhaps also of the 
nobles, was, thenceforth, more restrained: men acquired 
additional security for their liberties; and political author¬ 
ity approached nearer to that end for which it was origin¬ 
ally instituted—the distribution of justice, and the equal 
protection *of the citizens. 

Were we, in delineating the events of this reign, to de 
vote attention in proportion to their number, we should be 
exercising a talent destructive of the real utility of history 
Who could nave the patience to write, or even to read, a 
mng detail of such frivolous occurrences, as those with 
which it is filled; or attend to the tedious narrative, which 
would follow, through a period of fifty-six years, the capri¬ 
ces of so weak a monarch as Henry? 

The earl of Pembroke was appointed protector of the 
kingdom, during the minority of the young prince. This 
nobleman, who had maintained his loyalty to John, through 




HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


63 


the lowest fortune'of that monarch, determined to support 
the authority of the infant king; and was not dismayed by 
the number or violence of his enemies. As the nation was 
still agitated by the effects of those struggles made in the 
preceding reign, Pembroke wrote letters, in the king’s 
name, to the malcontent barons; in which, he represent¬ 
ed, that, whatever animosity they might have entertained 
against the late king, there had now succeeded to the throne 
a young princa, the lineal heir of their ancient sovereigns: 
that, as all past offences of the barons were now buried in 
oblivion, they ought, on their part, to forget their com¬ 
plaints against the deceased monarch; who, if he had been 
in any measure blameable in his conduct, left to his son 
the salutary warning, to avoid the paths which had led to 
extremities so fatal; and, that having now obtained a char¬ 
ter for their liberties, it was their interest to show, that the 
acquisition was not incompatible with their allegiance; 
and, that the rights of king and people, so far from being 
hostile and opposite, might mutually support and sustain 
each other. 

These considerations, enforced by the great weight of 
the protector’s character, had a powerful influence on the 
barons. The majority began secretly to negotiate with 
aim: many soon openly returned to their duty; and, in a 
few months, a general pacification was effected. But Pem¬ 
broke did not long survive the consummation of his labours. 
He was succeeded by Peter de Roches, bishop of Winches¬ 
ter, and Hubert de Burgh, high justiciary. The latter 
took the most active part in the administration. Though, 
however, he was a statesman of considerable ability, and a 
man of honour, yet he was not possessed of sufficient au¬ 
thority to restrain the turbulence of the barons. They 
held, by force, the royal castles, which had been committed 
to their custody by the protector: they seized the royal 
demesnes; oppressed their vassals; invited disorderly peo 
pie to live upon their lands, and gave them protection it 
all their robberies and devastations. 

Notwithstanding these intestine commotions, and 
1222 ' the precarious authority of the crown, (Henry be¬ 
ing now only in his sixteenth year,) the kingdom was oblig 
ed to carry on a war with France. But no military action 
of any moment was performed on either side. 

De Burgh, the most virtuous minister that Plenry eve" 
possessed, having been removed from office, was succeeded 
by his colleague, the bishop of Winchester. Plenry, though 


64 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

incapable of pursuing the same violent measures, by which 
his lather had so disgusted the nation, had imbibed simi¬ 
lar principles of tyranny; and, prompted by the evil coun¬ 
sel of his minister, drove the barons to form another com 
bination against the crown. In a very full parliament 
when he demanded a supply ol money, he was openly re¬ 
proached with the breach of his word, and the frequent 
violations of the great charter. He was asked, whet he? 
he (iid not blush, when desiring aid from a people whom he 
professedly hated and despised; to whom, on all occasions, 
he preferred foreigners; and who groaned under the op¬ 
pressions which he either exercised or permitted. He was 
told, that besides insulting the nobility, by forcing them to 
contract unequal and mean marriages with strangers, no 
rank ol men was so low as to escape vexations, from him- 
sell or his ministers: that even the meat consumed in his 
household; the clothes which he and his servants wore—• 
still more, the wine, which they used; were all taken, by 
force, from the lawful owners: that foreign merchants 
shunned the English harbours, as if they were possessed 
by pirates ; and commerce, with every nation, was thus cut 
off by violence: and that, even the poor fishermen could 
not escape the oppression of himself and his courtiers. 

On one occasion, the ecclesiastical order sent a deputa 
tion of four prelates—the primate, the bishops of Winches 
ter, Salisbury, and Carlisle, to remonstrate with him on his 
fi equent violations ol their privileges, the oppressions with 
which he had loaded them and all his subjects, and the un- 
canonicol and forced elections which were made to vacant dignities 
in the church. “ It is true,” replied the king, “ I have been 
rather faulty, in this particular. I obtruded you, my lord 
ol Canterbury, upon your see: I was obliged to employ 
both intreaties, and menaces, my lord of Winchester to 
nave you elected: my proceedings, I confess, were very ir¬ 
regular, my lords of Salisbury and Carlisle, when I raised 
you, from the lowest stations, to your present dignities. I 
am, therefore, determined, henceforth, to correct these 
abuses.; and it will also become you, in order to make a 
thorough reformation, to resign your present benefices, and 
try to enter again in a more regular and canonical manner.” 
i he oishops, surprised by these unexpected sarcasms, re¬ 
plied, that the question was not how to correct errors which 
were past, but how to avoid them for the future. 

1258. i 1T }P ru dent and illegal measures of the gov 

eminent induced Simon de Mountfort, earl of Lei 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


65 


center, a brother-in-law of the king, to attempt a revolu¬ 
tion. Assisted by many powerful barons, he waged war 
against the king, and compelled him to agree to an exten¬ 
sive reform; particularly as regarded a more equal and 
popular representation in parliament. This reign, there¬ 
fore, may be considered as the epoch of the House of Com¬ 
mons. Two knights were now elected, to sit in the legisla¬ 
ture, from each county; and deputies were admitted^ also 
Irom the boroughs. The parliaments, before, seem to have 
consisted exclusively of the nobles. 

Overcome by the cares of government, and the infirmi¬ 
ties of age, the king died at St. Edmondsbury, when he had 
reached the sixty-fourth year of his age, and the fifty-sixth 
of his reign; leaving two sons—Edward, his successor, ana 
Edmund, earl of Lancaster; also two daughters—Marga¬ 
ret, queen of Scotland, and Beatrix, dutchess of Brittany. 

In this reign, the manufacturing of linen was introduced 
into England, although there was yet in the kingdom no 
cultivation of flax; and, coals, the fhst that were raised in 
the country, were dug from the mines at New Castle. The 
state of our language, about this time, may be discerned 
by the following extract from an historical poem, written 
Oy Robert of Gloucester.* 

The greatest luminary of science in the whole world, 
during this century, was Roger Bacon; a Franciscan friar, 
horn near Ilchester, in 1214. Fie began his studies at Ox¬ 
ford; from which seminary, he went to Paris: and, after a 
tong residence there, he returned to England, and studied 
experimental philosophy with unremitting ardour. This 
extraordinary man was familiar with the theory and prac¬ 
tice of perspective; understood the use of concave and 
convex glasses; knew the great error in the kalendar, and 
proposed the remedy. He was also an adept in chemistry, 
and he is mentioned as the inventor of gunpowder. Through 
the envy and malice of his illiterate fraternity, who spread 
die puerile report of his dealing with an evil spirit, he was 
(mprisoned in Pis for ten years, and the reading of his 
works prohibited. These are, “ Epistola fratris Rogeri 

*Of pc batayles of Denemarch, }>at hii dude in fys londe 
pat worst were of alle o}>ere, we motte abbe an honde. 
Worst hii were vor opere adde somwanne ydo, 

As Romeyns 8c Saxons, 8c well wuste pat lond }>erto. 

Ac hii ne kept yt holde nogt, bote robby, and ssende, 
And destrue, 8c berne, 8c sle, Sc ne coufe abbe non cnde. 


66 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Baconis de secretis operibus artis et naturx , et de nullitate mapise;* 
printed in Paris in 1542;— u Opvs met jus—“Thesaurus 
chemicus all in Latin; the titles of which may be trans¬ 
lated thus: The Letter of brother Roger Bacon, on the 
secret operations of art and nature, and on the non-ex¬ 
istence of magic—The Greater Work—The Chemical 
Treasury—He died, in the succeeding reign, in the eighti¬ 
eth year of his age. 

The other distinguished scholars of this time, were Gi 
raldus Cambrcnsis, Matthew Paris, and Bracton. The lat¬ 
ter was chief justice, and wrote, in the Latin language, as 
it was then usual, a book on the laws and customs of Eng¬ 
land ; which is one of the most ancient as well as most 
methodical works of the kind produced in Britain. 

EDWARD THE FIRST 


1272—1307. 

In a battle at Evesham, and many other engagements in 
his father’s reign, as well as in a crusade against the Sara¬ 
cens, Edward had given most striking indications of those 
splendid talents for command, by which, after he ascended 
the throne, he was so eminently distinguished. He so ter¬ 
rified the Saracens, that they employed a ruffian to assas¬ 
sinate him. Having procured admittance to the prince, 
under pretence of negotiating, he took an opportunity, 
when only Edward and himself were in the room, to aim a 
poisoned dagger at his breast. Edward found means to 
ward ofi the stroke; though, in so doing, he was wounded 
in the arm ; and, perceiving the wretch about to repeat the 
blow, he struck him so forcibly with his foot, that he threw 
him upon the ground; and then, wresting the dagger from 
his hand, he plunged it into the barbarian’s heart. Ed¬ 
ward’s wound seemed, at first, very dangerous: but it was 
at last cured, according to many writers, by the devoted 
affection of his consort, Eleanor of Castile; who, in order 
to save her husband’s life, at the evident hazard of her 
own, sucked out the poison with her mouth. 

Edward had reached Sicily, in his return from the Holy 
Land,when he received information of his father’s death; 
u P°n which occasion, he discovered a deep concern. At 
the same time, he was told of the death of an infant son, 
John; whom Eleanor had borne him in Palestine. As he 
appeared much less affected with this misfortune, the king 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


67 

of Sicily expressed his surprise; to whom, Edward replied, 
that the death of a child was a loss which he might hope 
to repair—the death of a parent was a loss irreparable. In 
his passage through Chalons, in Burgundy, he was chal¬ 
lenged, by the prince of that country, to a tournament; and, 
as Edward excelled in that martial and dangerous exercise, 
the true image of war, he did not decline the opportunity 
of acquiring honour and renown, in presence of so many 
nobles as were then collected. But the resemblance of 
war was, here, unfortunately, turned into reality. Edward 
and his retinue were so successful in the jousts, that the 
French knights, provoked at their superiority, made a seri¬ 
ous attack, which was repulsed; and much blood was idly 
shed in the quarrel. 

It is said, that, in order to heighten the grandeur of his 
coronation, five-hundred horses were turned loose, with 
liberty for every one to keep as many as he could catch. 

Edward lost no time in commencing the removal of thos* 
disorders, which the civil commotions, and the loose ad¬ 
ministration of his father, had introduced into every part 
of the government. But, notwithstanding the judicious 
institutions, and public spirited plans, of this prince, we 
cannot acquit him of those numerous charges, which the 
history of his own time displays, respecting the severity 
of his disposition, and the unrestrained extortion which 
he exercised, when money was required. He was an up¬ 
right arbiter between one subject and another; but, in his 
own cause, a rapacious tyrant. The Jews, who, since their 
first establishment in England, were invariably persecuted 
and plundered, felt, in this reign, the overwhelming effects 
of his oppression. Had these unfortunate people been de¬ 
void of riches, they would also have been free from the 
imputation of crime. 

^ 0 The king now undertook an enterprise, the suc¬ 

cess of which might have been as glorious to him¬ 
self, as it was advantageous to his people. This was, the 
conquest of Wales. Lewellyn, prince of that country, had 
been deeply engaged with the Mountfort party; and had 
employed every expedient to depress the royal cause, and 
promote the encroachments of the barons. In the general 
accommodation, though Lewellyn had obtained a pardon, 
yet he seized every opportunity of sowing dissentions 
amongst the English, and lessening the authority of gov¬ 
ernment. Edward was not displeased with this occasion 
for exercising his favourite pursuit of war, and reducing 


6S 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


entirely, the principality of Wales. The Welsh prince had 
no resource but in retiring to his mountains, which were 
inaccessible to an invading army; and had, hitherto, through 
so many ages, defended his predecessors against all the at¬ 
tempts of the Saxons and the Normans. He took refuge 
in the hills of Snowdon; and resolved to hold out to the 
last extremity. But Edward, equally vigorous and cau¬ 
tious, entering by the north, pierced into the heart of the 
country; and, having carefully explored every road before 
him, and secured every pass behind, he approached the 
W elsh army in its last retreat. He here avoided putting 
to trial the valour of a nation, proud of its ancient inde¬ 
pendence, and inflamed with animosity against its here¬ 
ditary enemies; but trusted to the slow, though sure ef¬ 
fects, of famine. Destitute of magazines, and cooped up 
in a narrow corner, the Welsh army and their cattle suffer¬ 
ed equal deprivation; and Lewellyn, without being able to 
strike a single blow, submitted to the discretion of the vic¬ 
tor. He bound himself to pay to Edward fifty-thousand 
pounds, as reparation for damages, to do homage to the 
crown of England, and relinquish the country between 
Cheshire and the river Conway. 

But the English, insolent from the recollection of their 
easy victory, oppressed the inhabitants of the ceded dis¬ 
tricts; and, by many other injuries, raised the indignation 
of the Welsh; so that they determined, again to encounter 
a force, already found to be so much superior, rather than 
any longer submit to the severity of oppression. They 
flew to arms. This was what Edward had desired. With 
a powerful army, he advanced with rapidity into Wales— 
he fought and was victorious. All the Welsh nobility sub¬ 
mitted to the conqueror: the laws of England were estab¬ 
lished in the principality; an important object, which it 
had required eight-hundred years fully to effectuate. 

It is with reluctance that we sully our pages with the 
deeds of cruelty which he then committed. Sensible that 
nothing kept alive the ideas of military valour and of an¬ 
cient glory, so much as the traditional poetry of the people 
which, assisted by the power of music, and the jollity of 
festivals, maoti a deep impression on the minds of the youth 
he gathered together all the Welsh bards, and, with a bar¬ 
barous policy, ordered them to be put to death. 

We now come to give some account of the affairs of 
Scotland, which produced the most important occurrences 
of this reign. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 69 

The intercourse of that kingdom with England, either in 
peace or war, hitherto produced so few events of moment, 
that we have paid them little attention. The government 
of Scotland was continually exposed to those factions and 
convulsions, which are incident to all barbarous countries, 
and to many that are civilized; but, though the succession 
oi their kings had been disordered by irregularities and 
usurpations, the true heir of the royal family, had, ultimate- 

12S6 ly ’ P 1 ; evailed 5 and Alexander the third, who had 
‘ married Edward’s sister, probably inherited, after 
a period of eight-hundred years, and through a succession 
oi' males, that sceptre which was held by the first king, at 
the time of the original establishment of the Scottish mon¬ 
archy. Alexander died, without leaving any male issue, 
or any descendants, except Margaret, his grand-daughter. 
This princess, then a minor, seemed, under the protection 
of Edward, her grand-uncle, to be firmly seated on the 
throne of Scotland. The English monarch was, however, 
incited to form ambitious projects on this event; and, hav¬ 
ing, lately, by force of arms, brought Wales under subjec¬ 
tion, attempted, by the marriage of the queen with his 
eldest son, Edward, to unite the whole island under one 
monarchy, and, thereby, give it security against invasion. 
The sudden death of the young princess defeated the king’s 
intentions. Twelve claimants now appeared; who, by 
various titles, demanded their right of succession to the 
Scottish crown; but all these were very soon reduced to 
three; by the less remote proofs offered, individually, by 
John Hastings, John Baliol, and Robert Bruce. Scotland 
was threatened with a civil war. Its parliament, therefore, 
referred the dispute to Edward; not reflecting on his am¬ 
bitious character, and the almost certain ruin which is 
likely to attend a small state, divided by factions, when it 
thus submits to the will of a neighbour, so powerful and 
encroaching. The temptation was too strong for the Eng¬ 
lish monarch to resist. He designed, if not to create, at 
least to revive, a claim, of feudal superiority over Scotland 
He gave his award in favour of Baliol; who was, accord 
ingly, put in possession of the kingdom. The decision, 
itself, was just; and, had Edward done no more, he would 
have acted an honourable part. But John did not receive 
an independent crown. It was loaded with the disgrace ol 
vassalage. One insult was followed by another: a waren 
sued: Edward marefied with a powerful army into Scot 
land; and, after a great battle fought near Dunbar, reduced 
G 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


70 

the whole country to subjection. The feeble and timid 
Baliol hastened to make submission to the British king; 
and surrendered into his hands a crown, which he was more 
suited to dishonour than adorn. 

But the high spirited chiefs of Scotland, could 
not long endure the indignities of those appointed 
to govern them. Almost every nation has, at some period 
produced a hero. William Wallace was the agent, who, 
by his patriotism, was incited to undertake, and, by his 
courage and abilities, enabled to bring about, the deliver 
ance of his country. Though, however, the intrepid Wal 
lace lived not to see the consummation of his hopes, (hav¬ 
ing been betrayed into Edward’s hands, and barbarously 
hanged in London) yet, the flame which he had imparted 
to his brave associates, survived the throbbings of the 
breast which gave it birth. After an arduous struggle for 
many years, they broke the British bonds; and placed the 
crown, once more, upon the head of a native prince,— 
Robert Bruce; a man of conspicuous valour, grandson of 
that Robert who had been a competitor for the crown. 

Edward, in his march to Scotland with a large 
J * army, died suddenly at Carlisle, in the north of 
England; in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and the thirty- 
fifth of his reign; having enjoined, with his last breath, his 
son and successor never to. desist until he had finally sub¬ 
dued that kingdom. 

The great talents of this prince as a legislator, have 
gained him the appellation of the English Justinian: to the 
form into which he modeled the common-law, the wisdom 
of succeeding ages has not been able to add any consider 
able improvement. The house of commons, during this 
reign, made a still nearer approach to its present dignity; 
but, as yet, the members of that body acted merely as As¬ 
sessors of the public taxes; they were allowed no interfer¬ 
ence, whatever, in the enactment of laws. The delegates 
considered their election as a burthen, and, like the mem 
hers of the American Congress, at the present day, were 
remunerated for their services. 

EDWARD THE SECOND. 

1307—1327. 

This prince, the only surviving son of the late king, was 
now in his twenty-third year. He was of a gentle disposi 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


71 


tion; and, as he had never discovered a propensity to any 
dangerous vice, it was natural to prognosticate tranquillity 
and happiness from his government. But he soon showed 
himself to be totally unqualified for the difficult task of 
managing a turbulent people. Always attached to some 
unworthy favourite, he forfeited the esteem of his subjects. 
Piers Gavaston, a native of Gascony, was the first that he 
selected as a companion in his frivolous pursuits. But that 
unfortunate associate, in proportion as he was caressed by 
the prince, became obnoxious to the barons; and fell a vic¬ 
tim to their fury. His next favourite, was Hugh le De- 
spenser, commonly called Spenser, a young Englishman of 
a noble family; who, with his father, a man of immense 
estates, exercised unbounded sway over the royal mind. 

By the inconsiderate surrender of his authority, and the 
unremitting attention paid by Edward to his favourite, he 
lost the affections of Isabella, his queen. She retired to 
the court of her brother, the king of France. There, she 
met a young Welch nobleman, named Roger Mortimer; 
who, also, being inimical to the administration of the Spen¬ 
sers, was easily admitted to her company. The graces of 
his person and address gained quickly on her affections: 
he became her confidant and counsellor in all her measures; 
and, at last, engaged her to sacrifice every principle of con¬ 
jugal fidelity and honour. Hating, now, the man whom 
she had injured, and whom she had never highly valued, 
she entered warmly into all Mortimer’s conspiracies; and, 
having artfully got into her hands the young prince, the. 
heir of the monarchy, who was then at Paris, she resolved 
on the utter ruin of the king and his obnoxious companion 
She accordingly came over into England; where, being 
joined by many of the powerful nobility, the Spensers soon 
fell a sacrifice to the general attack. The unfortunate 
monarch, after in vain attempting to escape, fell into the 
hands of his enemies; and the queen summoned a parlia¬ 
ment, which voted his dethronement. Edward did not 
long survive this humiliation: he was put to death, in the 
most barbarous manner, by the infamous Mortimer and his 
associates, in the forty-third year of his age, and the twen¬ 
tieth of his reign. 

In the sixth year of this reign, was fought, about two 
miles from Stirling, in Scotland, the celebrated battle of 
Bannockburn. Edward himself commanded the English 
forces, and Robert Bruce, the Scottish king, those of his 
own country. This engagement ended in the signal over- 


72 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Lhrow of the British army; and firmly established the 
victorious Robert on the throne of his ancestors. 

EDWARD THE THIRD. 

1327—1377. 

A council of regency was now chosen by parliament, to 
superintend the administration of the laws ; and the earl of 
Lancaster, a nobleman of the blood royal, was appointed 
guardian and protector of young Edward, eldest son of 
the late monarch. 

Although it might reasonably be expected, that, as the 
weakness of his father had caused an alarming licentious¬ 
ness amongst the barons, the first disturbance of the pub¬ 
lic tranquillity would proceed from them ; yet, it was from 
external enemies, that the country felt its earliest attack. 
The king of Scotland, though advanced in years, still re¬ 
tained that martial spirit which had raised his nation from 
the lowest ebb of fortune, and deemed the present opportu¬ 
nity favourable for invading England. He first made an at¬ 
tack on the castle of Norham; in which, he was disappointed. 
He then mustered, on the frontiers, an army of twenty-five- 
thousand men ; and, having selected the earl of Murray 
and Lord Douglas, as generals, he threatened an incursion 
into the northern counties. The English regency, after 
ineffectually using every expedient to restore peace with 
Scotland, made vigorous preparations for war; and, besides 
a native army of sixty-thousand men, they procured a large 
body of foreign cavalry, much superior in discipline to the 
forces of their own country. Young Edward, burning with 
a passion for military fame, appeared at their head; though 
now only in his fifteenth year; and marched inquest of the 
enemy, who had already passed the frontiers, laying waste 
every thing around them. Murray and Douglas were the 
two most celebrated warriors that arose in the long hostili¬ 
ties between the Scots and English; and their forces, train 
ed in the same school, were perfectly qualified for this de 
sultory and destructive warfare. Except a body of four 
thousand cavalry, well appointed, and fit to make a steady 
impression in a regular battle, their army consisted of light¬ 
armed troops, mounted on small horses, which could find 
subsistence any where, and carry them, with rapidity, 
whether they meant to commit depredations on the peace¬ 
able inhabitants, to attack an armed enemy, or retreat into 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


73 


their own country. The whole equipage of one of these 
soldiers, consisted in a bag of oatmeal, which he carried 
behind him; and a light plate of iron, on which, in the 
open fields, he quickly baked his meal into a cake. But 
the principal resource was the cattle which he seized; the 
cookery of which was as expeditious as any of his other 
operations. After skinning the animal, he placed the hide, 
loose, and hanging in the form of a bag, upon some stakes: 
then poured water into it, kindled a fire below, and thus 
made it serve as a cauldron, for boiling his meat. 

After Edward had long, in vain, followed the enemy, 
who, being little encumbered, were so rapid in their 
marches, he found, at last, that they had fixed their camp 
on the southern bank of the Were, as if they intended to 
await a battle; but their prudent leaders had chosen their 
ground with so much judgment, that the English saw it 
was impracticable to cross the river in their face, for the 
purpose of attacking them in their present situation. Im¬ 
patient for revenge and glory, Edward sent them a defi¬ 
ance; and challenged them to meet him in an equal field, 
and try the fortune of their arms. The bold spirit of 
Douglas could not withstand this bravado, and he advised 
the acceptance of the challenge: but he was over-ruled by 
Murray; who replied to Edward, that he never took the 
counsel of an enemy. 

Whilst the armies lay in this position, an incident oc¬ 
curred, which had nearly proved fatal to the English. 
Douglas, having got the watch-word, entered their camp 
secretly, in the night time, with a body of two-hundred 
chosen warriors; and advanced to the royal tent, with a 
design of killing the prince, or carrying him off through 
the midst of his army. But, in that critical moment, some 
of Edward’s attendants, awaking, made resistance: his 
chaplain and chamberlain sacrificed their lives for his safe¬ 
ty; the king himself, after making a valiant defence, escap¬ 
ed in the dark; and Douglas, after losing the greater part 
of his followers, was glad, with the remainder, to make a 
hasty retreat. Soon afterwards, the enemy silently de¬ 
camped, in the dead of night, and arrived, without further 
loss, in their own country; leaving the English monarch 
highly incensed at the disappointment. 

The infamous Mortimer, having added, by repeat- 
lo * )0 * ed crimes, to the heavyweight of guilt by which he 
had rendered himself unworthy of existence, was, at length, 
condemned by a vote of parliament, and hung, on a gibbet^ 
G 2 


74 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


in the neighbourhood of London. Justice was also execut¬ 
ed on some of the inferior criminals; particularly Simon 
de Bereford; and the queen was confined to her house at 
Risings. 

The brave and valiant Bruce, who had recovered 
* by arms the independence of his country, having 
now yielded to the hand of Death, (that conqueror, whose 
unerring dart strikes, equally, the monarch and the sub¬ 
ject,) the earl of Murray was appointed guardian to his 
son, David, then a minor. Edward, the son of that John 
Baliol, who had been crowned king of Scotland, lived at 
this time in Normandy, on a patrimonial estate; without 
any thoughts of reviving the claims of his family to the 
crown ol Scotland. But, a dispute having arisen respect¬ 
ing the interpretation of a treaty, made between England 
and Scotland, by which all claim of superiority over the 
latter kingdom had been renounced, Baliol was now in¬ 
duced, by the English, to renew his pretensions to the Scot¬ 
tish throne. This produced a contest; in which Edward 
was busily engaged. Baliol was put in possession of the 
crown, but was soon driven from the kingdom; and, after 
a series of military events, unimportant at the present day, 
affairs stood nearly in the same state as before the war. 

We come now to a transaction, on which depended the 
most memorable events, not only of this long and active 
reign, but of the whole English or French history, during 
more than a century. Edward, when a youth of but fifteen 
years of age, had fondly cherished the idea that he was en¬ 
titled, in right of his mother, to succeed to the crown of 
France, upon the death of Charles, the Fair. There can¬ 
not be conceived a claim weaker, or worse grounded. The 
principle of excluding females, had been long established 
in that country, and had acquired equal authority with the 
most positive law. It was supported by ancient prece¬ 
dents: it was confirmed by recent instances, deliberately 
and solemnly decided; and if Edward was inclined to ques¬ 
tion its validity, he thereby cut off his own pretensions; as 
each of the last three kings left daughters, who were still 
alive, and stood before him in the order of succession. He 
was, therefore, reduced to assert, uiat, although his mother, 
Isabella, was, on account of her sex, incapable of succeed¬ 
ing, he himself, who inherited through her, was not liable 
to any objection, and might claim by the right of propin¬ 
quity. Though, however, the youthful and ambitious mind 
®f Edward had rashly entertained this idea, he did not im- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


75 


mediately insist on his pretensions; as Philip, the monarch, 
then on the throne of France, was a prince of mature 
years, and of an established character, both for prudence 
and valour It is, therefore, highly probable, that he would 
have totally relinquished his pretensions, but for some in¬ 
cidents, which, subsequently, excited a high degree of ani¬ 
mosity between the two monarchs. 

Edward, now prepared for a powerful invasion of 

00 ' the French territories. However, before he entered 
on this great enterprise, he affected to consult his parlia- 
ment, and obtained an apparent approbation. He procured 
from them a grant of twenty-thousand sacks of wool, (the 
principal article of export in those days,) which was a good 
instrument to employ with the Flemings, and the price of 
it with his German allies; as he had previously made ar¬ 
rangements for a supply of troops, with many eminent 
leaders amongst these people. But, after entering the 
French territory, and assuming the title of King of France, 
he was intimidated by the powerful force which Philip 
brought against his hireling troops, and, at last, returned 
into Flanders; where he dispersed his army. 

But Edward was not discouraged by the first dif- 
lj ' 40 ' ficulty of an undertaking. He passed over into 
England, procured a reinforcement, and fitted out a fleet; 
with which he again set sail for the invasion of France. 
Philip, having been apprized of the preparations making 
both in England and the Low Countries, collected a fleet 
of four-hundred vessels, having on board forty-thousand 
men. These, he stationed off Sluys; with a view of inter¬ 
cepting his antagonist. The navy of Edward was much 
inferior in number; consisting only of two-hundred-and- 
forty sail. A fierce and sanguinary engagement ensued. 
The English archers, then highly celebrated, galled the 
French on their approach; and, when the vessels grappled, 
and the contest was changed to close fighting, the exam¬ 
ple of the king and his gallant nobles so highly animated 
the soldiery and seamen, that they maintained, every 
where, a superiority. Thirty-thousand of the enemy were 
killed, and two-hundred-and-thirty of their vessels taken; 
although the loss on the side of the English was inconsid¬ 
erable. It is said, that none of Philip’s courtiers dared to 
inform him of this disaster, until his fool or jester had 
given him a hint, by which he was led to discover his mis¬ 
fortune. 

The German allies of Edward, seeing now a strong pro- 


7 6 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


bability of being paid for their services, assembled their 
forces, and expeditiously joined his army. He marched to 
the frontiers of France, at the head of above one-hundred- 
thousand men; a more numerous body than any that had 
previously, or that has since, been commanded by a king 
of England. But he was completely frustrated in nis at¬ 
tempts ; and, after making a truce with the enemy, again 
returned into England. 

1346 ^ ^e truce having expired, Edward again invaded 

France. His army, which, during the ensuing cam- 
paign, was crowned with the most splendid success, num¬ 
bered thirty-thousand ; and consisted of four-thousand men 
at arms, ten-thousand archers, ten-thousand Welsh infan¬ 
try, and six-thousand Irish. The Welsh and Irish were 
light, disorderly troops; fitter for doing execution in a pur 
suit, or ravaging a country, than for any regular action. 
1 he king created the earl of Arundel, constable of hia 
army; the earls of Warwick and Harcourt, marshals: and, 
immediately upon his landing, conferred the honour of 
knighthood on several of the young nobility, and on his 
eldest son, the prince of Wales; who, from the colour of 
his armour, received the name of the Black Prince. He 
then spread his army over the country; and, though Philip 
used every precaution that prudence could suggest, or 
abilities could execute, Edward penetrated the kingdom 
with rapidity, and some of his light troops carried their 
ravages to the very gates of Paris. 

But being closely pressed by the French monarch, he 
was, at length, obliged to act on the defensive. Besides 
the numerous parties of the enemy, who, under the most 
experienced commanders, assailed him in front and in 
rear, on his right and on his left, Philip himself advanced, 
at the head of a hundred-thousand men. 
i As his last resource, he took an advantageous post near 
tne village of Crecy. He disposed his army in excellent 
order; determined to await, in tranquillity, the arrival of 
the enemy; for, he expected that their eagerness to engage 
altei all their past disappointments, would hurry them on 
to some rash or ill-concerted action. He drew up his 
forces on a gentle ascent; and divided them into three lines. 
The first was commanded by the prince of Wales* and* 
under him, by the earls of Warwick, Oxford, and* Har¬ 
court, the lords Chandos, Holland, and other noblemen 
I he earls ot Arundel and Northampton, with the lords 
Willoughby, Basset, Ross, and sir Lewis Tufton, were at 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


* 4 


the head of tlie second. The king took on himself the 
command of the third line, which he intended as a reserve 
He had the precaution to throw up trenches on his flanks: 
and placed all his baggage behind him, in a Avood; which 
also he secured by an entrenchment. 

That he might infuse confidence and spirit throughout 
his army, Edward rode along the ranks, Avith an air of 
cheerfulness and alacrity; and then addressing them: “ I 
demand, only,” said he, “ that you Avill imitate my own ex- 
ample, and that of my son, the prince of Wales; and, as 
the honour, the lives, the liberties, of all, are iioav exposed 
to the same danger, I am confident vou will make one com¬ 
mon effort to extricate yourselves from your present diffi¬ 
culties, and, that your united courage, will give you the 
victory over all your enemies.” 

The French army, very imperfectly formed into three 
lines, already fatigued and in disorder, notv arrive in pre¬ 
sence of their enemy. The first line, consisting of fifteen- 
thousand Genoese cross-boAV-men, Avas commanded by 
Doria and Grimaldi. The second was led by the count 
D’Alengon, Philip’s brother. The king himself was at 
the head of the third. There Avere in the field, on the side 
of the French monarch, no less than three crowned heads; 
the king of Bohemia, the king of the Romans, and the king 
of Majorca; with all the nobility, and the great A r assals ot 
the crown. His army amounted to one-hundred-and-tAven- 
ty-thousand: four times the number ot his adversaiy s.—— 
The Genoese begin the attack. 1 he English keep their 
ranks firm and immoveable, and pour forth a rapid stream 
of Avell directed arrows. The Genoese, in confusion, tall 
back upon the line of D’Alen^on ; A\ r ho, eniaged at theii 
cowardice, orders his troops to put them to the SAvord.— 
The artillery of the English iioav fire amongst the crowd: 
the archers ply, incessantly, their Avell-bent Rows: all, 
amongst the enemy, is hurry and confusion, teiioi and dis¬ 
may. The young prince of Wales seizes the advantage, 
and leads on his line to the charge.— Noav, the French cav¬ 
alry, recovered from the disorder into Avhich they had been 
thrown by the runatvays, advance upon.their assailants, 
and, by their superior numbers, begin to hem them round. 
—The battle becomes for some time hot and dangerous; 
and the earl of Warwick, apprehensive of the event, des- 
patches a messenger to the king, entreating him to send 
succours for the relief oi the prince. . 

Edward had chosen his station on the top oi a hill; irom 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


which, he surveyed, in tranquillity, the scene of action. 
When the messenger accosted him, his first question was, 
whether the prince was slain or wounded—On receiving 
an answer in the negative, “ Return,” said he, “ to my son, 
and tell him I reserve the glory of this day for him: he 
will be able, without my assistance, to repel the enemy.” 

The prince and his attendants are now inspired with new 
courage. They make an attack, with redoubled vigour, 
upon the French: D’Alengon falls: the whole line of cav¬ 
alry is thrown into disorder: the riders are killed or dis¬ 
mounted—The king of France comes up to their relief— 
but the confusion is past remedy——the whole French army 
take to flight, and are followed, and put to the sword with¬ 
out mercy, until the pursuit is ended by the darkness of 
the night. 

There fell, on the side of France, twelve-hundred knights, 
fourteen-hundred gentlemen, and above thirty-thousand of 
inferior rank. Many of the principal nobility, and the 
kings of Majorca and Bohemia, were left dead upon the 
field. The late of the latter was remarkable. He was 
blind from age; but, being resolved to hazard his person 
for an example, he ordered that the reins of his bridle should 
be tied, on the outside, to the horses of two gentlemen of 
his train; from which arrangement, his dead body, and the 
bodies of his attendants, were afterwards found together 
with their horses standing by them. His crest was three 
ostiich feathers; and his motto these German words: Ich 
dim. [I serve.] The prince of Wales adopted them, as a 
memorial of his great victory; and both crest and motto 
are, at the present day, used by the king of Great Britain’s 
eldest son. T he loss of the English in this engagement 
was remarkably small—only three knights, one esquire, and 
very lew ol inferior rank. 

Edward, having taken the town of Calais, after one of 
the most celebrated sieges in the annals of the world, and 

having concluded a truce with France, returned into Eng¬ 
land.* & 

1356. ' VVhen the truce ex P>red, the war with France 
was renewed; and the prince of Wales was intrust¬ 
ed with the chief command. He invaded France, and sig- 


* The battle of Crecy was the first affair of importance in which 
AyUery was used. Though the French also were in possession of 

burev theyTad S them 23““ * Ctteys pr ° babIy in thei * 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

nalized himself by gaining' the celebrated victory of Poic- 
tiers. He had but twelve-thousand men; the enemy sixty- 
thousand: yet the latter were completely routed; leaving 
their monarch, John, a captive with the prince. The 
French king was treated by young Edward with the great 
est humanity and respect; but was carried as a prisoner to 
London. Here, he met a companion in his misfortunes 
David Bruce, the Scottish king, had been eleven years q 
prisoner in the hands ol Edward. After remaining three 
years, it was agreed, that John should obtain his liberty, 
by paying three-millions of gold crowns: a mutual adjust¬ 
ment of provinces was made; and Edward relinquished 
his claim to the throne of France. 

1 he health of the Black Prince had long been 
declining; and, after a lingering illness, he died in 
the forty-sixth year ol his age; illustrious by every virtue, 
and, from his earliest youth, until the hour in which he ex¬ 
pired, unstained by any blemish. 

The king survived only a few months this melancholy 
incident. He died in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and 
the fifty-first of his reign. 

The order of the Garter was instituted by this prince; 
and it was he who built the magnificent castle of Windsor* 
aided by the architectural knowledge of the learned Wil¬ 
liam of Wykeham, bishop of Winchester. A parochial 
assessment for the poor now began. The woolen manu¬ 
facture was promoted by the introduction of foreign weav¬ 
ers and cloth-dressers; an act of parliament was passed, 
which prohibited the wearing of any cloth except of British 
manufacture; and that badge of conquest, the use of the 
French language in pleadings and public documents, was at 
this time abolished in England. 

Having employed his arms successfully in subduing the 
crown of France, Edward thought it unbecoming the digni¬ 
ty of the victors to use any longer the language of the van¬ 
quished: it was therefore enacted, that all trials should 
proceed in the English tongue; and be entered and enrolled 
in Latin. 

This reign is esteemed the fountain of English poetry. 
Chaucer, who flourished in the time of Edward, was not 
only the first poet, but among the best poetical writers, that 
England has ever shown. His poems, in general, display 
every kind of excellence, except melody and regularity of 
measure; defects which are to be attributed chiefly to the 
rude state of the English language, at the time in which he 


80 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

wrote. The writings of sir John Mandeville, a scientific 
traveller, furnish us with its form in the year 1356, and 
show the gradual approximation to the present.* 

RICHARD THE SECOND. 

1377'—1399. 

Richard, the only surviving son of the Black Prince, was 
6ut eleven years of age when he succeeded to the throne. 
The young king was assisted in the government by his 
three uncles, the dukes of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester; 
sons of Edward the third; whose dangerous ambition was 
checked by the plain and unimpeachable title of Richard; 
the affectionate regard which the people bore to the memo¬ 
ry of his father ; and the different dispositions of the three 
princes. The duke of Lancaster was invested with the 
principal authority: but Gloucester, though the youngest, 
was the most conspicuous; being turbulent, bold, and 
popular. 

The most remarkable event in this reign, was an insur¬ 
rection of the people; the second, we believe, that occur¬ 
red in England. This serious disturbance was caused by 
the unfair method of assessing a poll tax, and the severity 
with which it was collected. A determined spirit of re¬ 
sistance spread rapidly over many of the principal coun¬ 
ties : the populace, worked up to the highest pitch of frenzy, 
by the most daring of their leaders, who assumed the names 
of Wat Tyler, Jack Straw, Hob Carter, and Tom Miller 
entered London; threatening almost universal destruction. 
However, by the address of young Richard, then only in 
his sixteenth year, and some promises made to them, this 
alarming commotion was, in a short time, quelled. 

The tranquillity of the northern borders was now 

° ' disturbed; not* so much from any national quarrel, 

as the rivalship between the two martial families of Percy 
of the north of England, and Douglas of Scotland. A well 

* “ In that lond, ne in many other bezonde that, no man may see 
the sterre transmontane, that is clept the sterre of the see, that is 
unmevable, and that is toward the Northe, that we clepen the lode 
sterre. But men see another sterre, the contrarie to him, that is to¬ 
ward the Southe, that is clept Antartyk. And light as the schip 
men taken here avys here, and governe hem be the lode sterre, right 
so don schip men bezonde the parties, be the sterre of the Southe, 
the which sterre apperethe not to us.” 


HISTORY - OF ENGLAND. 81 

contested action took place at Otterburne; in which, young 

Percy (surnamed Hotspur) was taken prisoner, and Doug¬ 
las slain. 6 

Some insurrections in Ireland obliged the king to go 
over into that country; which he reduced to obedience 
But the general conduct of this prince was little suited to 
gain the affections even of his English subjects. Indolent 
expensive, addicted to low pleasures, he spent the princi 
pal part of his life in riot and feasting; and dissipated, in 
idle show, or in bounties to his favourites, the revenue 
which should have been employed for the honour and ad¬ 
vantage of the nation. Gloucester, taking advantage of 
the public feeling, formed a conspiracy against him': but 
the king seized his uncle, and hurried him off to Calais; 
where, it is supposed, he was assassinated. The duke of 
Lancaster (commonly called John of Gaunt) having shortly 
after died, was succeeded by his son, Henry, earl of Derby; 
who had, by his conduct and abilities, acquired the esteem 
of the public. Richard, however, refused to put this prince 
in possession of his paternal estates; which produced a 
general insurrection. The slender talents of the duke ot 
York, who adhered to the royal cause, were unable to re¬ 
sist the storm. The king was dethroned, and Lancaster 
obtained the crown: the deposed monarch was immured 
in the castle of Pomfret; and the same party which had 
wrested from him his feeble sceptre, soon deprived him 
also of his life. 

But, even had king Richard been justly dethroned, thu 
crown did not regularly devolve upon Plenry. By the rules 
of sucxession, the posterity of Lionel, duke of Clarence 
second surviving son of Edward the third, and brother of 
the Black Prince, were now entitled to the throne; the heir 
of which branch was the young earl of Marche, son of 
Philippa, the daughter of the duke of Clarence, by Ed 
mond Mortimer; whose descendants, as will be seen here 
after, at length established their disputed title. 

The House of Commons had now, decidedly, obtained 
the power of legislation. 

John YVickliffe, a secular priest educated at Oxford, who, 
in the latter part of the preceding reign, had begun to 
spread the doctrine of religious reformation, died in 1385. 
His opinions were nearly the same as those afterwards 
propagated by Luther, and the other continental reform 
ers, in the sixteenth century; having been carried over 




82 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


into Germany by some young men who had been students 
»r Oxford.* 


CHAPTER XI 


HENRY THE FOURTH. 


1399—1413. 

THE unfortunate Richard left no posterity. The earl 
of Marche, who, previous to the usurpation of the duke 
of Lancaster, had been declared the next in succession to 
the crown, was, at this time, a boy of only seven years of 
age; and, as his friends consulted his safety by observing 
a profound silence with regard to his title, Henry detained 
him and his younger brother in a kind of honourable 
custody, at Windsor Castle. 

The new king, however, had to encounter many difficul¬ 
ties. He was opposed by a powerful body of the nobility: 
the peers, in the very first parliament summoned after his 
coronation, broke out into.violent animosities; and forty 
gauntlets, the pledges of furious battle, were thrown oil 
the floor of the house, by noblemen who gave challenges 
to as many members of opposite opinion. The king had 
sufficient authority to restrain the combats; but he was not 
able to produce reconciliation. These angry passions soon 
broke out into action; and nothing but the treachery of one 
of the conspirators, prevented Henry’s dethronement from 
being as rapid as his elevation. Miserable monarch 1 whose 

* The following specimen of the language in those days, is taken 
from WicklifFe’s translation of the Bible. 

Luk. Chap. I. [Luke.] 

IN the days of Eroude kyng of Judee ther was a prest, Zacarve 
by name t of the sort of Abia, and hi3 wyf was of the doughtris of 
Aaron: and hir name was Elizabeth. 

2 And bothe weren juste bifore God: goynge in all the maunde- 
mentis and justifyingis of the Lord withouten playnt. 

3 And thei hadden no child, for Elizabeth was bareyn, and both 
weren of greet age in her dayes. 

4 And it befel that whanne Zacarye schould do the office of prest- 
nod, in the order of his course to fore God, 

5 Aftirthe custom of the presthod, he wente forth by lot and en« 
tl ide into the temple to encensen. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


83 

only security was the streaming of the scaffold; and whose 
tottering throne seemed still to vibrate with the agonies of 
his murdered predecessor ! 

The revolution in England caused an insurrection in 
W ales, and tempted the Scots to make incursions. In 
one of these, Archibald, earl of Douglas, with many more 
ol his countrymen, were overtaken by the Percys at Homel- 
don, on the English borders, and made prisoners. Henry 
sent orders to the earl of Northumberland, not to ransom 
them; though by the laws of war, which then prevailed, 
he had that privilege. The impatient spirit of Harry 
Percy, and the factious disposition of the earl of Worces- 
ter, younger brother of Northumberland, inflamed the dis¬ 
contents ol this nobleman, and induced him to seek revenge, 
by overturning that throne which he had assisted to estab¬ 
lish. He entered into a correspondence with Glendour, a 
descendant of the ancient princes of Wales; liberated the 
earl of Douglas; made with him an alliance, and roused up 
all his partiz-ans to arms. Northumberland having been 
suddenly deprived of health, the command devolved upon 
young Percy, his son; who marched towards Shrewsbury, 
in order to form a junction with Glendour. The king over¬ 
took Percy, before that nobleman was joined by his Welsh 
140 „ friends; and the policy of one leader, and impatience 
* of the other, hastened on the engagement.—The 
shock was tremendous. The charges were incessant. Hen¬ 
ry exposed himself in the thickest of the fight; and his 
gallant son, whose military feats became afterwards so 
famous, now signalized himself by his heroic bravery. 
Percy supported the renown which he had hitherto main¬ 
tained ; and Douglas, formerly his enemy, but now his 
friend, still appeared his rival, amidst the horror and con¬ 
fusion of the day. But, whilst the armies were thus con¬ 
tending, the death of Percy decided the victory, and the 
royalists prevailed. Douglas and Worcester were taken 
prisoners: the former was beheaded at Shrewsbury; the 
latter was treated with mercy and respect. 

Tnus, have been related, nearly all the memorable inci¬ 
dents of this reign; which, though crowded with sanguina¬ 
ry commotions, produced few events that deserve to be 
recorded. 

After an illness of many months, the king expired at 
Westminster, in the forty-sixth year of his age, and the 
fourteenth of his reign. He left four sons : Henry, who 
succeeded to the crown; Thomas,duke of Clarence; John 


84 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


duke of Bedford; and Humphrey, duke, of Gloucester 

The military order of the Bath was now founded. 

HENRY THE FIFTH. 

1413—1422. 

The precarious title by which the late king held his ele¬ 
vated situation, had naturally filled his mind with appre¬ 
hension; and even his own son, whose reign is now the 
subject of narration, was not exempted from the pernicious 
effect of his unconquerable jealousies. 

The active spirit of young Henry, restrained from its 
proper exercise in political pursuits, broke out, in his 
father’s life time, into extravagancies of every kind; and 
he endeavoured to forget, in riot and debauchery, the dis¬ 
appointments of an ardent and ambitious mind.—The great 
English dramatist, who availed himself of every striking 
incident in history, has not omitted Henry as a fit subject 
lor theatrical exhibition.'—The nation, however, regarded 
the young prince with an indulgent feeling: they observed 
so many gleams of generosity, spirit, and magnanimity, 
breaking continually through the cloud, which a wild con¬ 
duct had thrown over his character, that they never ceased 
hoping for his amendment; and ascribed all his irregular¬ 
ities to his father’s inattention. 

A riotous companion of the prince had been indicted 
for some disorders, before Gascoigne, the chief justice; 
and Henry appeared at the bar, to give him his countenance 
and protection. Finding that his presence had not over¬ 
awed the judge, he proceeded to insult him on his tribunal; 
but Gascoigne,not forgetful of the dignity of his own char¬ 
acter, and the respect which is due, by all, without distinc¬ 
tion, to the laws, ordered the prince, for his rude behaviour, 
to be carried to prison. The spectators were agreeably 
surprised when they saw the heir of the crown peaceably 
submit to this sentence, make reparation for his error by 
an acknowledgment, and check his impetuosity in the 
midst of its career. 

After his elevation to the regal dignity, the first step taken 
by the young monarch, confirmed all those prepossessions 
which had been entertained in his favour. He called to¬ 
gether his former companions; acquainted them with his 
intended reformation; exhorted them to imitate his ex¬ 
ample ; strictly forbade them to appear any more in his 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


85 


presence,until they had given proofs of their amendment; 
and then dismissed them, with liberal presents. The wise 
and virtuous ministers of his father, and the upright and 
noble spirited Gascoigne, were told to persevere in the 
same impartial execution of the laws; and the character of 
the young king now appeared brighter than if it had never 
been shaded by any errors. Instead of continuing the re¬ 
straints imposed by his father on the earl of Marche, he 
received him with singular courtesy and favour; which mag¬ 
nanimity gained so much on the gentle disposition of his 
rival, that he remained, ever after, sincerely attached to him, 
and gave no disturbance to his future government. The 
family of Percy was restored to its estate and honours: 
Henry’s subjects were unanimous in their affection, and the 
defects of his title were forgot amidst their personal regard. 

The late king, upon his death-bed, most emphatically 
enjoined his son, not to allow the English to remain long 
in peace; but to employ them in foreign expeditions: by 
which, he said, the prince might acquire honour, the no¬ 
bility, in sharing his dangers, might attach themselves to 
his person, and all the restless spirits find occupation for 
their inquietude. This injunction may be used in palliation 
of those military exploits, in which Henry was afterwards 
so eminently conspicuous. The injunctions of an expiring 
parent should have a powerful effect upon the conduct of 
a son: but, still, they have not sufficient weight, on our 
minds, to call forth an approval of those reiterated plaudits, 
given by the historians of this prince. We have allowed 
Henry the full measure of our praise, for his deportment 
as a magistrate: we shall withhold them for his conduct as a 
warrior; and, only the barbarism of the age in which he lived, 
restrains us from throwing into the opposite scale, a weight 
of censure, which would overbalance his domestic virtues. 

Charles the sixth, then on the throne of France, was af¬ 
flicted with occasional attacks of mental derangement, 
which rendered him incapable of pursuing any steady plan 
of public government. The administration of affairs was 
disputed by the dukes of Orleans and Burgundy: but, the 
former having been assassinated by order of his rival, the 
son of the murdered prince sought revenge; and thus, the 
city of Paris was, for a long time, a deplorable scene of 
violence and blood. The ad vantage which might be made 
of these confusions, was easily perceived in England; and, 
according to the maxims too often prevailing amongst na¬ 
tions, it was determined to use the favourable opportunity 
H 2 


s6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

of regaining all those provinces which his ancestors had 
possessed in France, and, as circumstances might direct, 
of renewing the claim made by Edward the third to the 
French crown. 

Henry put to sea, and landed at Harfleur, with an 
1415 ' army of thirty-thousand men; mostly archers. He 
immediately began the siege of that place; and, enraged 
at a breach of faith in the governor, who had agreed to 
surrender on a certain day, if succours should not arrive, 
he ordered a general assault, took the town by storm, and 
put all the garrison to the sword; except some gentlemen, 
whom the victorious army were induced to spare, in hopes 
of reaping profit by their ransom. 

The fatigues of the siege, with the unusual heat of the 
season, had severely wasted the English army. Henry 
could not, therefore, enter on any further enterprise, and 
wished to return to England: but, as he had dismissed his 
transports, he lay under a necessity of going by land to 
Calais; from which place, he proposed to embark. A 
French army, of fifty-thousand men, now watched his mo* 
tions; and, after he had passed the small river of Ternois, 
at Blangi, he was surprised to observe, from the heights, 
this powerful enemy, drawn up in the plains of Agincourt; 
and so posted, that it was impossible for him to proceed on 
his march, without hazarding an engagement. So great 
was the superiority of the French, in number, that David 
Gam, a Welsh captain, who had been sent out to reconnoitre 
them, brought back word, in the homely style of his coun¬ 
try, that there was enough to be killed, enough to be taken 
prisoners, and enough to run away. Henry’s situation was 
similar to that of Edward at Crecy, and of the Black Prince 
at Poictiers. He was opposed to an army above four times 
his number; yet no battle was ever more fatal to France than 
the battle of Agincourt. Of the French forces, ten-thousand 
were killed, and fourteen-thousand taken prisoners—nearly 
half their entire army, and more than double the number 
that opposed them ! The English lost but forty slain! 

The trifling resources of all the European princes, in 
those days, prevented them from prosecuting a war, with 
uninterrupted vigour; and Henry, yielding to necessity, 
concluded a truce with the enemy, and returned into Eng¬ 
land. 

^ g Still distracted by the furious ambition of her roy¬ 
al princes, France was, at this time, badly prepared 
lo resist invasion. Henry, now aiming at the crown of that 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


87 


country, landed, with a numerous army, in Normandy; and 
was favoured equally by his fortune in the field, and the. 
events which occurred amongst the French. The duke of 
Burgundy having been murdered, the young dauphin, lieii 
apparent of the crown, was not exempted from the imputa 
tion of having shared in the crime; though, from his ex¬ 
treme youth, it is probable he was innocent of the charge. 
The son of that prince thought himself bound, by every tie 
of honour and of duty, to revenge the murder of his father. 
The subjection to a foreign enemy, the expulsion of the law¬ 
ful heir, the slavery of the kingdom, appeared but small 
evils, if they led to the gratification of his feelings. By the 
intrigues, therefore, of the young duke, a treaty was con¬ 
cluded at Troye; the principal articles of which, were, that 
Henry should espouse the princess Catherine, the French 
king’s daughter; that Charles, during his lifetime, should 
enjoy the title and dignities of king of France; that Henry 
should be declared and acknowledged heir of the monarchy, 
and be intrusted with the present administration of the gov¬ 
ernment; that that kingdom should pass to his heirs gen¬ 
eral; that France and England should, for ever, be united 
under one crown; and that Henry should join his arms to 
those of king Charles and the duke of Burgundy, in order 
to subdue the adherents of Charles, the pretended dauphin. 
Such was the tenor of this astonishing treaty, which trans¬ 
ferred the crown of France to a stranger: a treaty, which, 
as nothing but the most violent animosity could dictate, so 
nothing but the sword could carry into execution. In a few 
days after, he was married to the princess Catherine: he 
carried his father-in-law to Baris ; got possession of that cap¬ 
ital, and obtained, from the French parliament, a ratifica¬ 
tion of the treaty. At length, having succeeded in reducing 
many of the principal towns which had held out against the 
royal authority, he appointed his uncle, the duke of Exeter, 
governor of Paris, and passed over into England, for the 
purpose of raising supplies. 

He had now returned to the French capital; hav 
ing overcome every difficulty: his queen had a son, 
who was called by his father’s name, and was joyfully re¬ 
garded, both at Paris and London, as the future heir of 
both monarchies. But the earthly glory of the conqueror, 
when it had nearly reached the summit, was stopped short 
by the hand of death, and all his mighty projects glided 
from his view 


88 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


He died in the thirty-fourth year of his age, and the 
tenth of his reign. 

He left the regency of France to his next brother, the 
duke of Bedford; that of England, to his younger, the 
duke of Gloucester; and the care of his son’s person to 
the earl of Warwick. 

The exterior figure and deportment of Henry were en 
gaging. His stature was rather above the middle size: his 
countenance beautiful: his limbs were slender, but full of 
vigour; and he excelled in all the warlike and manly exer¬ 
cises of the age. 

Catherine of France, Henry’s widow, married, soon after 
his death, a Welsh gentleman, sir Owen Tudor, (said to 
have been descended from the ancient princes of his coun¬ 
try) and bore him two sons; Edmund and Jasper: of whom, 
the eldest was created earl of Richmond; the second, earl 
of Pembroke. 

The fixed revenue of the crown during this reign, 
amounted only to fifty-five-thousand pounds, and the ordi¬ 
nary expenses of government to fifty-two-thousand; so that 
the king had, yearly, for the support of his household, for 
embassies, and other contingencies, no more than three- 
thousand pounds. 

From the earliest times, until the reign of Edward the 
third, the denomination of money had not been altered. A 
pound sterling was still a pound troy; (about three pounds 
of the present money;) hence, the letter L is used to de¬ 
note a pound of money: which character is deducible ei¬ 
ther from the Latin, libra , or the French, livre —-words used 
in those languages to denote either a pound in weight or a 
pound i n money. Through necessity, Edward coined twenty- 
five shillings out of a pound troy: but Henry carried the 
imposition still further; and made thirty shillings from 
the same quantity. His revenue, therefore, was equal to 
one-hundred-and-ten-thousand pounds of the present mo¬ 
ney; and, by the price of provisions in his time, equivalent 
to more than three-hundred-and-thirty-thousand.* 

None of the princes of the house of Lancaster ventured 
to impose taxes without the consent of parliament. Their 
doubtful, or bad title, became, so far, advantageous to the 
state; as, thereby, a precedent was established, which could 
not afterwards, with impunity, be infringed; even by prin¬ 
ces of more absolute disposition. 


* In the year 1816, after several intermediate changes, the standard 
was reduced to 66 shillings from a pound of silver. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


S9 


HENRY THE SIXTH. 

1422—1461. 

The British parliament, without paying any regard to the 
will of the late king, assumed the power of giving a new ar¬ 
rangement to the whole government. Not approving of the 
title of regent with respect to England, they nominated the 
duke of Bedford protector of the kingdom; a title supposed 
to imply less authority: they invested the duke of Glouce¬ 
ster with the same dignity, during the absence of his broth¬ 
er ; and, in order to limit the power of both these princes, 
appointed a council, without whose advice and approba¬ 
tion, no measure of importance could be determined. 

The power of administration in France, vested in Henry 
the fifth, by the treaty of Troye, was still continued to his 
heir, though yet an infant; and the duke of Bedford now 
managed the affairs of that kingdom. The experience, the 
prudence, and valour, of this nobleman, qualified him for 
this high office; and enabled him to maintain union amongst 
his friends, and gain the confidence of his enemies. He was 
at the head of armies inured to victory: he was seconded 
by the most renowned generals of the age—the earls of 
Somerset, Warwick, Salisbury, Suffolk, and Arundel; Sir 
John Talbot, and Sir John Fastolfe. But all thfese advanta¬ 
ges were not sufficient to counterbalance the difficulties by 
which he was surrounded. Every political arrangement 
must yield to the changes produced by time. Many of the 
French nobility, upon whom the regent had most firmly 
relied, now felt their interest in supporting the opposite 
cause; and war again resounded over France. 

The city of Orleans was so situated between the provin¬ 
ces commanded by Henry and those possessed by Charles, 
that it opened an easy entrance into either; and as the duke 
of Bedford intended to make a great effort to penetrate into 
the south of France, he began with this place, now become 
the most important in the kingdom. The eyes of all Eu¬ 
rope were turned towards a scene, where it was supposed 
that the French were to make their last stand for the inde¬ 
pendence of their monarchy. The earl of Salisbury ap¬ 
proached with an army of ten-thousand men, and commenc¬ 
ed his operations by an attack upon the outworks; in which 
affair, he was killed by a cannon-ball. The English, also, 
had several pieces of artillery in their camp: the first that, 
were found of importance at any siege in Europe. The earl 


90 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


of Suffolk, upon whom the command devolved, trusted, for 
success, more to famine than to force, and converted the 
siege into a blockade. Great scarcity was soon felt within 
the city. Charles not only gave up the place for lost, but 
began to entertain a very dismal prospect with regard to 
the general state of his affairs. But it was fortunate for this 
good prince, that, as he lay under the dominion of the fair 
sex, the women whom he consulted had the spirit to sup¬ 
port his sinking resolutions. Mary of Anjou, his queen, in 
particular, exerted herself to kindle in his breast the patriot 
flame. Love was more powerful than ambition—he re¬ 
solved rather to perish with honour in the midst of his 
friends, than yield ingloriously to the frowns of fortune. 

1429 ^ determination which Charles had made in 

compliance with his queen, was soon assisted by a 
female of a very different character; who gave rise to one 
of the most extraordinary revolutions to be found in histo¬ 
ry. In the village of Domremy, on the borders of Lor¬ 
raine, there lived a country girl, twenty-seven years of age, 
called Joan d’Arc. She was a servant in a small inn; in 
which station, she was accustomed to tend the horses of 
the guests, to ride them, without a saddle, to the watering 
place, and to perform other offices, which, in well-frequent 
eel inns, fall to the share of men-servants. This girl was 
of an irreproachable life, and, hitherto, was not remarked 
for ary singularity; probably because she had met with no 
occasion to excite her genius. It is easy to imagine, that 
the present situation of the country was an interesting sub¬ 
ject of discourse, even to persons of the lowest rank; and 
that the peculiar character of Charles, so strongly inclined 
to friendship and the tender passions, would naturally ren- 
dei him the hero of that sex, whose generous minds know 
no bounds in their affections. The siege of Orleans, 
the great distress of the garrison and the inhabitants, the 
importance of saving the city and its brave defenders, had 
attracted universal attention; and Joan, inflamed by the 
general excitement, was seized with a wild desire of reliev 
ing the miseries of her sovereign. Her inexperienced 
mind, employed day and night on this favourite object 
mistook the impulse of enthusiasm for heavenly inspira¬ 
tion; and she fancied that she saw visions, and heard voices 
exhorting her to expel the invaders of her country. She* 
went to the governor of the district, informed him of her 
inspirations and intentions; and conjured him not to ne¬ 
glect the voice of God, which spoke through her, but to 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 91 

second those revelations, which impelled her to this Mori, 
ous enterprise. It is uncertain, whether the governor had 
discernment sufficient to perceive, that a great effect might 
be produced on the vulgar, by an instrument so uncommon; 
or, that he was, himself, a convert to this visionary. He 
adopted, however, the scheme of Joan, and gave her some at- 
tendants, who conducted her to the French court at Chinon. 

he more the king and his ministers were determined 
to profit by the illusion, the more scruples they pretended. 
An assembly of grave theologians examined Joan’s mis¬ 
sion, and pronounced it undoubted and supernatural. She 
was sent to the parliament, then residing at Poictiers, and 
was interrogated before that assembly. The presidents 
and the counsellors, who came, persuaded of her imposture, 
wenc away convinced of her inspiration; and a ray of hope 
soon mummed the minds of those, who, before, were en¬ 
veloped in despair. 

Joan was now armed cap-a-pee, was mounted on horse¬ 
back, and, in that martial habiliment, was shown to the 
people.. Her dexterity in managing her steed, though ac¬ 
quired m her old employment, was regarded as anew proof 

of her mission: her former occupation was even denied,_ 

she was no longer the servant of an inn. She was con¬ 
verted into a shepherdess; and, to render her still more 
interesting, nearly ten years were subtracted from her age. 

When the engine was thus dressed up in full splendour, 
it was determined to try its force against the enemy. Joan 
was sent to Blois, where a large convoy was prepared for 
the support of Orleans, and an army of ten-thousand men 
assembled to escort it. She ordered all the soldiers to con¬ 
fess their sins, before they set out; banished from the camp 
all women of bad fame; and insisted, in right of her pro¬ 
phetic mission, that the convoy should enter Orleans, by 
the direct road, from the side of Beausse. But the count 
of Dunois, an able general, unwilling to relinquish the 
rules of the military art, ordered that it should approach 
by the other side of the river; where, he knew, was sta¬ 
tioned the weakest part of the English army. 

The powerful influence of superstition on the minds of 
the besiegers, became evident. When the convoy ap¬ 
proached the river, a sally was made by the garrison, on 
the side of Beausse, to prevent the English general from 
sending any detachment to the other side: the provisions 
were then peaceably embarked in boats, sent out by the in 
habitants: Joan covered with her troops the embarkation* 



(>2 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Suffolk did not venture to attack her; and the French gen¬ 
eral returned with his army in safety to Blois. The Maid 
of Orleans, (by which name this female is generally known) 
entered the town, arrayed in her military garb, displaying 
a consecrated standard, and was received by all the inhabit¬ 
ants as a celestial deliverer. They now believed, that, un¬ 
der her sacred influence, they were invincible ; and Dunois 
himself, perceiving so wonderful an alteration, both in 
friends and enemies, consented that the next convoy, which 
was expected in a few days, should enter by the side of 
Beausse.—The convoy approaches—no sign of resistance 
appears—the wagons and troops pass through the re¬ 
doubts, without interruption—and there remain amongst 
the besiegers a dead silence and astonishment! 

We have now related the most interesting scenes in 
which this remarkable character so conspicuously appear¬ 
ed. The blockading army, after her entrance into the city, 
did not long remain before its walls; and, from this time, 
the affairs of the English gradually declined in France. 
The duke of Bedford, however, displayed pre-eminen* 
abilities in bearing up against the misfortunes of the army; 
but his death, which happened in about six years from the 
commencement of these reverses, hastened the evacuation 
of the French dominions. That amiable character by which 
he had long been distinguished, was, unhappily, sullied by 
an atrocious act of barbarism. The Maid of Orleans, had, 
by the chances of war, fallen into his hands; and this ad¬ 
mirable heroine, to whom, as an elegant writer has observ¬ 
ed, the more generous superstition of the ancients would 
have erected altars, was, on pretence of heresy and magic, 
delivered to the flames; and expiated, by that dreadful 
punishment, the signal services which she had rendered to 
her prince and her native country. 

The English were not finally subdued in France until 
the year 1450 ; and, even then, neither a truce nor a peace 
was concluded : nor can it be said that they were over¬ 
thrown by the strength of their opponents ; as their retreat 
proceeded from a gradual diminution in their numbers, 
which could not be recruited. 

Henry’s incapacity for government appeared every dav 
in a fuller light, and his title to the British crown was now 
disputed. All the males of the house of Mortimer were ex¬ 
tinct; but Anne, sister of the last earl of Marche, having 
been espoused by the earl of Cambridge, beheaded in the 
leign of Henry the fifth, had transmitted her latent, though 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 93 

not forgotten, claim, to her son, Richard, duke of York. 
This prince, descended from Philippa, only daughter of 
the duke of Clarence, second son of Edward the third, stood 
plainly in the order of succession before the king; who 
derived his descent from the duke of Lancaster, third son 
of that monarch. 1 hus, the English were to pay the se¬ 
vere, though late penalty, of their turbulence against Rich¬ 
ard the second; and of violating, without just reason, the 
lineal succession of their monarchs. The duke was second¬ 
ed by many of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom; 
and, amongst the number, by the celebrated Richard Nevil, 
eai 1 ol W arwick, commonly known by the appellation of 
King-maker. 

1455. . A sanguinary engagement between the rival par 
ties, took place at St. Albans, where the Yorkists 
had the advantage ; upwards of five-thousand of their ene¬ 
mies having been left dead upon the field. There, the first 
blood was spilled,in that fatal quarrel; which continued for 
thirty years; was signalized by twelve pitched battles; 
caused the deaths of eighty princes of the blood, and almost 
entirely annihilated the ancient nobility of England. 

After alternate battles and negotiations, the parliament 
declared the title of the duke of York to be certain and in 
defeasible; but, in consideration that Henry had so long 
enjoyed the crown, without dispute, ihey determined that 
he should continue in possession of the title and dignity for 
the remainder of his life, and that the administration of the 
government should, immediately, be vested in the duke. 

This prince, however, did not long survive the settlement. 
Margaret, the queen of England, still kept the field, with a 
powerful army; and, in a severe engagement, fought at 
Wakefield, in which she herself commanded, the duke of 
York was killed, and his army defeated. But the affairs of 
the Yorkists were soon retrieved by the bravery of Edward, 
eldest son of the deceased duke; who entered London, 
amidst the acclamations of the citizens, and was, by the 
voice of the people, called to the throne, under the title of 
Edward the fourth. 

Thus, ended, the reign of Henry; who, whilst in his 
cradle, bad been proclaimed king both of England and 
Prance:—a prince who should be pitied for his misfortunes 
as lie suffered for the usurpation of another. 

Happily for England, her foreign dominions, except Ca¬ 
lais and a few other places, were now lost. From this time, 
her maritime adventures were better understood, and more 
I 



94 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


closely pursued; and, as soon as she had rested from her 
civ;l wars, she began suddenly to flourish; and became 
much more considerable in Europe, than when her princes 
were possessed of a larger territory, and her councils dis¬ 
tracted by foreign interests. 

The historian employed by Henry the sixth, was Thomas 
Walsingham. The most remarkable law passed in this 
reign, was for the due election of members of parliament, 
in counties: the electors were limited to freeholders who 
possessed forty shillings a year, free from all burthen, with¬ 
in the county for which the members were to be returned. 



CHAPTER XIL 
EDWARD THE FOURTH. 

1461 — 1483 . 

THERE is no part of English history, since the conquest, 
so obscure, and inconsistent, as that of the wars between 
the two houses of York and Lancaster. Some events of 
the utmost importance, in which nearly all the historians of 
those days agree, are contradicted by records; and it is re¬ 
markable, that this uncertainty occurs just on the eve of 
the restoration of Letters. All we can distinguish, through 
the deep cloud which covers the transactions of that age, 
is a scene of horror and bloodshed, savage manners, arbi¬ 
trary executions, and treacherous, dishonourable conduct, 
in all parties. The chief certainty, in this and in the pre¬ 
ceding reign, arises, either from public documents, or the 
notice taken of particular occurrences by the French wri¬ 
ters. It is highly probable, that the scarcity of English au¬ 
thors, during this period, proceeded from the destruction 
of the convents, which had been almost the sole reposito¬ 
ries of learning; as the nobility and gentry were yet in a 
state of profound ignorance. They were so much engaged 
m the sanguinary contests of the field, that they had^ no 
leisure to attend to the peaceable studies of the closet., 
Young Edward, in the very commencement of his reign, 
gave symptoms of that cruelty which afterwards so strongly 
marked the course of his turbulent career. A tradesman 
in London, who had above his door the sign of the crown, 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


95 

hiving jocosely said that he would make his son lieir to the 
crown , this harmless pleasantry was interpreted to have 
been spoken in derision of the king’s assumed title; and 
he was, for this implied offence, condemned and executed. 
Such an act of tyranny was a suitable prelude to the scenes 
which followed. The scaffold and the field incessantly 
streamed with blood, shed in the quarrel between the two 
rival families. The adherents of the house of Lancaster 
chose the red rose, as the symbol of their party: those of 
\ ork, assumed the white; and thus, these civil wars were 
known over Europe by the name of the quarrel between 
the Two Roses. 

Queen Margaret being still in the field with a numerous 
army, the king, accompanied by the earl of Warwick, set 
out with a body of forty-thousand men, to give her battle. 
A. sanguinary engagement shortly ensued: the Lancastrians 
were defeated ; and the queen, with the unfortunate Henry, 
fled for safety into Scotland. The good effects of this vic¬ 
tory upon the affairs of Edward, were apparent, in the first 
parliament summoned for the purpose of settling the gov¬ 
ernment. The members no longer hesitated between the 
two families; they recognised his title, through the house 
of Mortimer; and declared that he was entitled to the 
throne from the moment of his father’s death. 

In the following spring, the nation was again visited by 
the horrors of war. The French king, induced from mo¬ 
tives of policy to support the weaker party, gave Margaret 
a body of two-thousand men; with which, assisted by a nu¬ 
merous train of adventurers from Scotland, and many par¬ 
tisans of the house of Lancaster, this indefatigable woman 
again appealed to arms. However, in two engagements 
which occurred, at Hedgley-more and Hexham, her forces 
were completely overthrown. She herself escaped into 
Flanders; but the weak and unhappy Henry was made 
prisoner, and conveyed to the Tower of London. 

The cruel and unrelenting spirit of Edward, though in¬ 
ured to the ferocity of civil wars, was, at the same time, 
extremely devoted to the softer passions: which, without 
mitigating the severity of his temper, maintained over him 
a powerful influence, and shared his attachment with the 
pursuits of ambition and the thirst for military glory But, 
as it is difficult to reduce the inclinations within strict 
bounds of propriety, his amorous temper led^im into ac 
imprudence, fatal to his future repose, and to the stability 
of his throne. 


96 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Sir John Gray of Groby having been killed in battle, 
fighting on the side of Lancaster, his widow, Elizabeth, had 
gone to reside with her father, sir Richard Wideville, at 
his seat of Grafton, in Northamptonshire. The king went 
accidentally to the house, after a hunting party; and, as 
the occasion seemed favourable for obtaining some grace 
from this gallant monarch, the young widow, remarkable 
for the elegance of her person, threw herself at his feet, and, 
with tears, entreated him to have pity on her distressed 
and impoverished children. Edward was strongly affected 
by the sight of so much beauty in affliction: through the 
imperceptible agency of compassion, love stole insensibly 
into his heart; and her sorrow, so becoming a virtuous 
matron, made his esteem quickly correspond to his affec¬ 
tion. With assurance of favour, he raised the lovely mourner 
from the ground: every moment, by the conversation of 
the amiable object, he found his passion rapidly increase; 
and was soon reduced to become a suppliant at her feet. 
But, all the endearments, caresses, and importunities, of 
the young and fascinating Edward, failed, against her rigid 
and inflexible virtue. Carried, at last, beyond all bounds 
ol reason, he offered to share his throne, as well as heart, 
with a woman, whose beauty of person, and dignity of char¬ 
acter, seemed so well to entitle her to both. Their mar¬ 
riage was privately celebrated at Grafton ; and the secret, 
lor a while, carefully concealed. No one could suspect 
that so libertine a prince would sacrifice so much to a ro¬ 
mantic passion; indeed, there were strong reasons which 
rendered this union in the highest degree imprudent and 
dangerous. 

Edward soon felt the effects of his precipitate alliance. 
Not long before, he had commissioned the earl of Warwick, 
to request the hand of Bona of Savoy, sister to the queen 
of France ; to which proposal, through the address of that 
nobleman, she had acceded. When, therefore, the incon¬ 
siderate love-match with the lady Elizabeth came to light, 
the high spirited Warwick, delicately susceptible of at 
1470 fi ont, soon determined to seek revenge. Flavin? 
formed a confederacy with the duke of Clarence 
(the king’s eldest brother,) and several more of the chief 1 
nooility, the earl went over to the continent. There, he 
had an interview with queen Margaret; and a plan of inva¬ 
sion was soon arranged, under the auspices of the king of 
trance; who assisted them with an army. Warwick with 
his followers landed at Dartmouth, whilst the king was in 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


97 

the north, suppressing an insurrection. The scene which 
ensued, is more like the fiction of romance, than an actual 
historical event. In eleven days from the landing of this 
celebrated nobleman, and without even a sword having been 
drawn, Edward was expelled from the kingdom; and 
Henry the sixth was released from the gloomy walls of his 
prison, and placed upon the throne. 

But the ascendency of the Lancastrians was of short con* 
tinuance. Edward, having obtained an armament from the 
duke of Burgundy, landed, in the ensuing spring, at Rav- 
enspur, in Yorkshire, and marched with rapidity towards 
London. In a sanguinary and well contested action, fought 
at Barnet, near the capital, the reigning party was defeat¬ 
ed; and Warwick himself, after combating on foot, fell glo¬ 
riously amidst the thickest of his enemies. The intrepid 
Margaret landed on the same day at Weymouth, with her 
son, a promising young prince of about eighteen years of 
age, supported by a small body of French troops; and, be¬ 
ing joined by several of the English nobility, she pushed 
forward as far as Teukesbury. Here, the expeditious Ed¬ 
ward soon attacked her : the Lancastrians were totally 
overthrown, and Margaret and her son taken prisoners. 
The king having asked him how he dared to invade his 
dominions, the youth answered, that he came thither to 
claim his just inheritance. For this reply, the barbarous 
and ungenerous Edward struck him on the face with his 
gauntlet; and his attendants, taking the blow as a signal 
for further violence, hurried the prince into the next apart¬ 
ment, where they despatched him with their daggers. 
Margaret was thrown into the Tower: king Henry died, a 
few days after the battle of Teukesbury; but the cause of 
his death is uncertain. 

In the following year, the duke of Clarence, having giv¬ 
en some new offence to his brother, was condemned to die; 
and being allowed to choose the manner of his death, was 
drowned, by his own desire, in a butt of Malmsey wine. 

We shall now close the unpleasant scenes of this san¬ 
guinary period, by the death of the king himself. He died 
in the forty-second year of his age, and the twenty-third 
of his reign; leaving, besides five daughters, Edward 
prince of Wales, his successor, then in his thirteenth year, 
and Richard duke of York, in his ninth. 

It was in the seventh year of this reign, that the modern 
art of Printing was introduced into England, by Edward 
Caxton, of London. This enterprising citizen became ac* 
I 2 


98 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


quainted, in Germany, with that invaluable method of dis¬ 
seminating knowledge: where, it was invented, about 
thirty years before; causing an immense improvement on 
the mode of printing from wooden stereo-types, used in 
remote ages by the Chinese. 

EDWARD THE FIFTH. 

1483 . 

The late king had expressed a desire, that his brother, 
the duke of Gloucester should be invested with the regen 
cy, during the minority of the young prince. But Glouce 
ster soon determined to usurp the throne, which it was his 
duty to protect. To the greatest abilities, this nobleman 
united an ambition, which no circumstances could deter, no 
principle of justice or generosity could restrain. The chief 
agents in his iniquitous and tragical proceedings, were, the 
duke of Buckingham, Dr. Shaw a clergyman, the mayor of 
London, (brother to the latter,) sir William Catesby, and 
sir James Tyrel. The queen dowager, alarmed at the sud¬ 
den arrest of her brother the earl of Rivers, and her son sir 
Richard Gray, fled from the treachery of Gloucester, into 
the sanctuary of Westminster; taking with her the five 
princesses, and the duke of York. Menaces and entreaties 
were now used by the duke, to induce the queen to deliver 
up the latter; and she, finding that force would be used, if 
she persisted in a refusal, at last complied. 

The council, without the consent of parliament, having 
appointed the duke of Gloucester protector of the govern¬ 
ment, he soon proceeded to remove all, who by connexion, 
attachment, or a sense of duty, stood opposed to his crimi¬ 
nal design. Lords Rivers and Hastings, sir Richard Gray 
and sir Thomas Vaughan, were murdered by his order. He 
then openly aspired at the throne; and, by intimating the 
illegitimacy of the king, and his own superior right, through 
the means of sermons from the pulpit and popular ha¬ 
rangues, he endeavoured to gain the suffrages of the peo¬ 
ple. But, failing in these, he threw aside almost the sem¬ 
blance of propriety; and, with no better title than the hired 
acclamations of a rabble, assumed the crown. 

The fate of the unfortunate and helpless Edward and his 
brother, may easily be foreseen. They were murdered in 
the Tower, the place of their confinement; and their bodies 
buried there, at the foot of a flight of stairs. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
RICHARD THE THIRD. 

1483 — 1485 . 


09 


The history of the .world does not furnish a more flagrant 
instance ol usurpation than that of Richard. Even weie 
men disposed to pardon these violations of public right, the 
sense oi private and domestic duty, which is not totally 
effaced in the most barbarous times, must have produced 
an abhorrence against so detestable a character; and have 
represented the murder of the young and innocent princes, 
his nephews, with whose protection he had been intrusted 
in the most odious and terrific colours. 

A friendship commenced in villany and blood, as was 
that ol Richard and the duke of Buckingham, can never be 
cemented. No alliance can be lasting, unless sealed by the 
hand of virtue.—Jealousy, on the one side, and reiterated 
demands for past services, on the other, having soon caus¬ 
ed an irreparable breach, the latter now endeavoured to 
drag Richard from his throne, and place on it the earl of 
Richmond. 

This nobleman was grandson of sir Owen Tudor, and 
Catherine, widow of Henry the fifth; and was related, by 
blood, to the royal family, through a spurious branch, legit¬ 
imated (with an express exclusion from the crown) by act 
of parliament. He was descended from the eldest illegiti¬ 
mate son of John of Gaunt, who was the fourth son of Ed- 
. ward the third. Having fled after the battle of Teukesbury, 
f to seek refuge with the duke of Brittany, Henry the fourth, 
finding that all the Lancastrians regarded the earl as the 
object of their hopes, requested that the duke would de¬ 
liver him into his hands: but the utmost he could obtain, 
was a promise, that he should not be allowed to depart 
from that prince’s dominions; and he was, at this time, 
detained there in a kind of honourable custody. 

Richard having soon received intelligence of the con¬ 
spiracy, Buckingham was obliged to take the field. He 
was, however, shortly after, made prisoner, condemned, 
and executed. 

1485 -^e ear * RRhmond, with a retinue of about 

two-thousand persons, landed at Milford Haven, in 
Wales. The two rivals approached each other at Bosworth, 
near Leicester; Henry, at the head of six-thousand men; 
Richard, with an army of double that number. A dreadful 
conflict ensued. The sanguinary tyrant fought with a de» 




100 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


gree of bravery worthy of a better cause: but his forces 
were defeated, and he himself, fighting to the last, perished 
by a fate too mild and honourable for his multiplied enor¬ 
mities. The soldiers, suddenly prompted by the joy of so 
great success, hailed their victorious leader as their king; 
and the acclamations of “ Long live Henry the seventh’* 
resounded through the field. 

HENRY THE SEVENTH. 

1485 — 1509 . 

Although the adherents of the house of Lancaster, had, 
for some time, considered Henry as the heir of that family, 
yet, even admitting that the pretensions of that line to the 
crown Were well founded, which has always been a matter 
of dispute, this prince was not the true heir. Nothing in¬ 
deed but the obstinacy of faction, could have induced the 
partisans of that house to adopt the earl of Richmond as 
their head ; for, besides the many other objections to his 
title, his mother, through whom he derived his claim, was 
still alive, and evidently preceded him in the order of suc¬ 
cession. Previous to Henry’s return, it was stipulated, that 
ne should espouse the princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter 
of Edward the fourth, heir of the family of York, and, by 
right, entitled to the crown. But, unwilling that his claim 
snould derive any additional force, from this union of the 
two branches, he carefully avoided the performance of the 
contract, until he had obtained a parliamentary acknow¬ 
ledgment of his own title ; and, in the act of settlement, he 
studiously omitted the smallest mention of the princess. 

A few days after the battle of Bosworth, Edward Plan- 
tagenet, earl of Warwick, son to the unfortunate duke of 
Clarence, who had been drowned in the butt of Malmsey, 
and nephew of Edward the fourth, was, by Henry’s order, 
conveyed to the Tower. This gave rise to one of the most 
remarkable incidents of the present reign. A priest, named 
Richard Simon, possessed of considerable subtlety and bold¬ 
ness, had entertained the design of disturbing Henry’s gov¬ 
ernment, by raising a pretender to his crown. For this pur¬ 
pose, he selected a youth of fifteen years of age, named 
Lambert Simnel; who, being endowed with understanding 
above his years, and address above his condition, seemed 
well fitted to personate a prince, educated near a court. A 
rumour had oeen spread, and eagerly received, that Rich 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


101 


ard, duke of York, had not been put to death by his uncle, 
but lay concealed in England. Simon, taking advantage of 
this report, at first instructed his pupil to assume the name 
of that prince; but, hearing, afterwards, a new rumour, that 
Warwick had escaped from his confinement, he changed 
his plan, and made Simnel personate the latter. It was, 
however, remarked, that Simnel was better informed in 
affairs relating to the royal family, and, particularly to the 
earl of Warwick, than he could be supposed to have been 
from one of Simon’s condition; and it was thence conjec¬ 
tured, that persons of higher rank participated in the 
scheme: nor was the queen dowager herself exempted from 
suspicion; as she had been treated very unkindly by the king. 

Simon, very properly judging that the artifice would not 
bear a close inspection, carried pupil to Ireland; where 
the inhabitants were zealously attached to the house of York. 
Warwick’s father had been chief governor in that island, 
and for his memory they bore an affectionate regard. Here, 
his tale was implicitly believed. The earl of Kildare, who 
was then governor, espoused his cause; and, by the unan¬ 
imous voice of the people, he was crowned in the castle of 
Dublin, under the title of Edward the sixth. 

When Henry received intelligence of this extraordinary 
event, he ordered that Warwick should be taken from the 
Tower, and exposed to public view. This was accordingly 
done, and had the desired effect in England; but, in Ire¬ 
land, the delusion still continued. 

The dutchess of Burgundy, sister of Edward the fourth, 
pleased with an opportunity of disturbing the repose of 
Henry, despatched over to Ireland a body of two-thousand 
veteran Germans. These, united with the Irish forces, set 
sail, under the command of the earl of Lincoln, accom¬ 
panied by the newly created king, and landed at Eoudrey 
in Lancashire. Thence, they advanced as far as Stoke in 
Nottinghamshire; where they were encountered by the 
royal forces, and completely routed, with the loss of their 
leader and four-thousand of the common men. Simnel 
himself was taken prisoner; but, being too contemptible to 
excite either apprehension or resentment, he was pardoned, 
made first a servant in the king’s kitchen, and then ad 
vanced to the station of a falconer. 

France had latterly received an immense increase 
1491 ' of territory. Normandy, Champagne, Anjou, Dau- 
phiny, Guienne, Provence, and Burgundy, were, for some 
time past,united to her crown: the English were expeLUd 



10 2 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


from all their continental possessions, except Calais; and 
Charles the eighth, the present monarch, this year suc¬ 
ceeded in annexing also the dutchy of Brittany. It was 
evidently the interest of Henry to prevent this depression 
of an ally, and consequent elevation of a rival, already 
gi own dangerous from the extent of his dominions. But, 
though he had neglected to render sufficient aid, when it 
might have been given with advantage, he resolved, at all 
events, to have a war with France; more intent upon gra¬ 
tifying his ruling passion, by draining the pockets of°his 
subjects, than anxious for the deliverance of Brittany. He 
issued orders for levying a Benevolence; a species of taxa¬ 
tion, not only pointedly denounced by the Great Charter 
but, again forbidden, by act of parliament. Archbishop’ 
IMoi ton, the chancellor, instructed the commissioners to 
employ a dilemma, by which every one might be included 
in its application. If the persons applied to for money 
li\ ed ft ugally , they were told that their parsimony must have 
enriched them: if their establishments were splendid they 
were supposed opulent from their expenses. 

1492. .^ n autumn °f this year, Henry landed at Ca¬ 

lais with a large army; which he placed under the 
command of the duke of Bedford and the earl of Oxford 
It does not appear, however, that the soldiers were much 
harassed in their professional duty, as no military opera¬ 
tions can be found on record; but we are informed, that 
in about a year after this politic and intimidating parade 
negotiations lor a peace commenced. A few days were 
sufficient for the purpose. The demands of Henry were 
wholly pecuniary; and the king of France, deeming the 
possession of Brittany an equivalent for any sum, readily 
agreed to the proposals. He engaged to pay Henry 
se\en-hundred-and-forty-five-thousand crowns, and his heirs 
a yearly pension of twenty-five-thousand. Thus, the king 
as is wittily remarked by Bacon, “ made profit on his sub¬ 
jects tor the war, and on his enemies for the peace.” 

Rather irritated than depressed by the failure of her oast 
enterprises, the dutchess of Burgundy was determined at 
least to disturb a government which she was not able to 
subvert. The report of the escape of the young duke of 
\ ork, brother of Edward the fifth, and his subsequent com 
cealment, was renewed; and another instrument was now 
tutored tor deceit.—One Warbec, of Tournay, had, m the 
reign of Edward the fourth, visited London/on business, 
and had there a son born to him Having had opportuni 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


103 

ties of being known to the king, he prevailed with that 
prince, whose manners were very affable, to stand god-father 
r or his son; to whom, he gave the name of Peter. Some 
years afterwards, Warbec, with his family, returned to Tour- 
nay ; where young Peter (called, after the Flemish manner, 
Peterkin, or Perkin) did not long remain; but, by different 
accidents, was carried from place to place; by which means, 
his origin became unknown, and difficult to be traced by 
the most diligent inquiry. This Perkin Warbec having 
been represented to the dutchess as perfectly fitted to her 
purpose, she became desirous of seeing him, and found 
him even to exceed her expectations. Warbec, being 
properly instructed, was sent over to Ireland; where he 
was received as the true Plantagenet. Thence, by the in¬ 
vitation of the French king, he went to Paris; and was 
there" treated with the highest marks of distinction, and vis¬ 
ited by many of the most respectable nobility of England. 

Henry now ordered that the bodies of the murdered 
princes should be searched for in the Tower; but they 
could not be discovered. However, by the vigorous mea¬ 
sures which the king pursued against the abettors of this 
impostor, all men of respectability gradually forsook him.* 
1495 P er kin, having collected about six-hundred out¬ 
laws and necessitous persons of all nations, appear¬ 
ed off the coast of Kent; from which, he was quickly re¬ 
pulsed. Soon afterwards, he made an attempt upon Ire¬ 
land. But sir Edward Poynings, the governor, had put the 
affairs of that country in so good a posture, that lie met 
with little success. He then bent his course to Scotland, 
and presented himself before James the fourth; who was 
so much deceived by his plausible accounts and elegant 
deportment, that he gave him in marriage lady Catherine 
Gordon; a relation of his own, equally eminent for her 
virtue and her beauty. 

As there subsisted, at this time, a considerable jealousy 
between the courts of James and Henry, the former thought 
the opportunity favourable for giving disturbance to his 
neighbour; and, accordingly, having collected a number of 
hia border-men, he made several inroads into England, ac> 

* In the reign of Charles the second, the skeletons of those two 
young 1 princes were found in the Tower; in the very spot assigned 
by More, Bacon, and other ancient authors, as the place of their in¬ 
terment. This fact should be taken as conclusive against the doubts, 
expressed by several writers of their having been murdered by their 
uncle. 


104 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


compamed by Warbec. But, in a short time, a truce was 
made between the two countries; and Perkin was obliged 
to retire from Scotland. Being joined by a few adherents, 
he chose, as a temporary retreat, the wild fastnesses of 
Ireland; and soon again issuing forth, landed in Cornwall. 
Having then, for the first time, assumed the title of Rich¬ 
ard the fourth, king of England, he advanced into the 
country; and, when he arrived at Taunton, his army 
amounted to seven-thousand men. There, however, hear¬ 
ing that a large force was on its march to oppose him, he 
secretly withdrew to the sanctuary of Beaulieu in the New 
Forest. The rebels submitted to the king’s mercy. Lady 
Catherine, wife to Perkin, fell into the hands of Henry; by 
whom she was treated with a degree of generosity and re¬ 
spect highly to his honour; Perkin, under a promise of 
pardon, surrendered ; but, having entered into a conspira¬ 
cy with the earl of Warwick, to effect their escape -from 
rhe lower, by murdering the lieutenant, Perkin was hang¬ 
ed at Tyburn, and the earl beheaded. 

When Henry was freed from these alarming attacks, he 
employed himself in satiating his avaricious propensity, 
by repeated exactions upon his subjects ; in which illegal 
proceedings, he was assisted chiefly by two lawyers, named 
Empson and Dudley. 

After a busy reign of nearly twenty-four years, 
Henry yielded to the ravages of a consumption; 
having ordered in his will, that restitution should be made 
to ah whom he had injured. He was a prince equally con¬ 
spicuous for his wisdom in the cabinet and his conduct in 
the held; and, notwithstanding his occasional errors, the 
history of his country can produce few monarchs who 
were less chargeable with the frailties of man. He left 
only one son, of his own name, who succeeded to the 
throne; and one daughter, Margaret, wife of James the 
fourth of Scotland. 

^ It was in this reign, in the year 1492 , that Christopher 
Columbus, a native of Genoa, sailed from Cadiz on that 
celebrated voyage which ended in the discovery of the 
Western World; and it was only by accident, that Henry 
had not a considerable share in the glory of this event. 
Columbus, after experiencing many repulses from the court 
of Spain, sent to England his brother, Bartholomew, to ex¬ 
plain his projects to the king, and solicit his patronage and 
aid: but, in his passage, Bartholomew was taken by pirates; 
and though Henry, after his release, and subsequent arrival 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


10', 

at his court, gave an invitation to his brother to come ove , 
it was too late. Columbus, having, in the mean time, ob- 
tained the countenance of Isabella, was supplied with a 
small fleet, and happily executed his ..enterprise. In six 
years afterwards, Henry employed Sebastian Cabot, of Bris¬ 
tol; who fell in with the main land of America, near the 
sixtieth degree ot north latitude; and then, steering south¬ 
ward along the coast, discovered a large island, to which 
his sailors gave the name of Newfoundland. Changing his 
course to the west, he came to a smaller island, which he 
named St.John; and soon reached that part of the new 
continent now called Virginia. 

Many salutary laws were now enacted. A humane alter¬ 
ation was made in the courts of justice; which allows to 
foreigners the privilege of a jury, half of whose number are 
also aliens. But, the most important law was one for per¬ 
mitting the nobility and gentry to break the ancient entails, 
and dispose of their estates; by which means, the great 
fortunes, and consequently the dangerous influence, of the 
barons, were diminished, and property more equally diffus¬ 
ed amongst the commons. Several statutes were also made 
against engaging retainers, and giving them badges and liv¬ 
eries; a practice, by which they were, in a manner, en¬ 
listed under some great lord, and kept in readiness to assist 
him in all wars, insurrections, and tumults; and even to 
bear evidence for him, in courts of justice. 


HENRY THE EIGHTH. 

f / 

1509 — 1547 . 

Every advantage, that the safety of an extensive king¬ 
dom could demand, or the ambition of a youthful monarch 
could desire, was now united in the British crown:—tran¬ 
quillity at home; peace with all abroad; an improving com¬ 
merce, and a well stored treasury; a people affectionate to 
their prince; an undisputed title to the throne. 

The conduct pursued by Henry in the commencement 
of his reign, served to heighten the favourable preposses¬ 
sions of the public. Anxious to gain the applause, if not 
to increase the happiness, of his subjects, he dismissed from 
his council those men, who, in his father’s reign, had been 
Xnost obnoxious to the nation Of the new ministers, the 
K 





106 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


most ambitious of royal favour, were, the earl of Surry, and 
Fox, bishop of Winchester. The populace were next grati¬ 
fied by the punishment of all who had lately assisted in 
plundering the kingdom; amongst whom, Empson and 
Dudley, as they had been the most active, so were they the 
most exposed to public hatred; and, having been brought 
to trial, they suffered an ignominious death. 

Henry now deliberated concerning the completion of his 
marriage with a Spanish princess. His elder brother, Ar¬ 
thur, prince of Wales, had espoused Catherine of Arragon, 
a daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, and sister of the cele¬ 
brated Charles the fifth; Arthur being then about sixteen 
years of age, and Catherine eighteen. But, as Arthur died 
in a few months afterwards, the king, unwilling to restore 
the dowry, compelled his second son, Henry, then only 
twelve years of age, to be contracted to her; having first 
received the concurrence of the pope. Though, however, 
this contract had been made by the desire of his father, yet 
their disparity of years, and her former marriage with his 
brother, caused him for a while to hesitate. Her known 
virtue, however, the sweetness of her temper, the affection 
which she bore him, the political advantages resulting from 
the alliance, together with the approbation of his council, 
determined him, improperly, to consummate the union. 

He was scarcely settled on his throne, when he began to 
enter warmly into the affairs of the continental princes. In¬ 
stigated by the over-reaching intrigues of Ferdinand, and 
a desire to gain the favour of the pope, he invaded France; 
but, after defeating the enemy in an engagement called the 
battle of the Spurs, because, in that action, the French 
made more use of their spurs than of their swords, his 
army was reimbarked. In the mean time, Scotland, always 
the assailant of England, when England made war upon 
France, renewed her depredations. 

An able minister was now required; and that minister 
was found in the person of Thomas Wolsey, dean of Lin¬ 
coln. This extraordinary man, born at Ipswich in Suffolk, 
had i eceived a classical education, and being endowed with 
an excellent capacity, was admitted as tutor into the family 
of the marquis of Dorset; where, he gained the friendship 
of his patron. Fie was afterwards recommended as chap¬ 
lain to the late king; who esteemed him highly for his dili¬ 
gence and address: and now,neither his own years, though 
more than forty, nor his clerical profession, \v ere any re- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


107 

straint upon himself; nor did he check, by any ill-timed 
severity, the occasional pleasures of his new master. 

15 1 he summer of this year was employed chiefly in 

preparations for the war with France; which, after 
many military operations, presenting no interest at the pre¬ 
sent. day, was concluded by a treaty. Henry was contented 
by receiving a million of crowns, due, by stipulation, to his 
father and himself; Lewis, by a contract of marriage with 
the princess Mary, sister to the British king: the one aged 
fifty-four—the other, but seventeen. 

, 1 he success which, in his absence, had attended the arms 
ol Henry, in the North, was much more decisive. In a great 
battle fought in the field of Flouden,near the Cheviot Hills, 
the earl of Surry gained a memorable victory. The king 
ol Scotland, brother-in-law of Henry, and most of his prin¬ 
cipal nobility, were there killed; and a peace with that 
country was soon concluded. 

Wolsey, whom the king had promoted to the see of Lin¬ 
coln, was now made archbishop of York; enjoying, at the 
same time, the emoluments of many other ecclesiastical 
establishments. The pope, observing his great influence 
over the king, by which he wished to profit, advanced him 
to the high dignities of cardinal and legate; and never did 
any churchman carry the state and splendour of that char¬ 
acter to a more exorbitant height. -His income is said to 
have been equal to the king’s; and he spent it in a not 
less royal manner. The walls of his palact were covered 
with cloth of gold, or cloth of silver. His plate was of 
massy gold. Flis train consisted of eight-hundred servants; 
of whom, many were knights and gentlemen, desirous of 
his patronage. Thus, did the minister of a religion, which 
demands only the modest exterior of simplicity, rival the 
puerile magnificence of an eastern despot. But, neither the 
income of these preferments, nor the pageantry of these 
establishments, could satiate his ambition. Another step 
was yet ungained. The papal chair now occupied his 
thoughts; and to the attainment of this last object of his 
desire, he sacrificed the faith of treaties, and the tranquilli¬ 
ty of Europe. Always watching the varying revolutions of 
the political machine, he attached himself to that movement 
which tended towards the last goal of his earthly view; and, 
by sometimes favouring the intrigues of one monarc h, 
sometimes those of another, he involved his country in 
foreign broils, equally uninteresting to her feelings, and in¬ 
jurious to her welfare. Let »\s, ho^^pr, whilst we condemn, 


1 08 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


1521 . 


allow a due portion of extenuation. Francis the first, then 
monarch of the French, and Charles the fifth, a prince who 
swayed at once the powerful sceptres of Germany and 
Spain, and into 'whose treasury were poured the riches of 
the western world—these did not withhold their flattery 
ard their countenance, but courted the aspiring* cardinal 
with the fawnings of hypocrisy, and encouraged the arden¬ 
cy of his ambition, by the profusion of their bounties, their 
promises, and familiarities. 

The extensive field in which the authority of the 
Roman pontiff had been so freely practised, began 
at thL; time, to contract its limits. From the diffusion of 
polemical essays, caused by the use of printing, a new era 
had arisen; and Martin Luther, an Augustin friar, pro 
lessor in the university of Wittemberg, was, by tha£ 
means, enabled to oppose, with unusual effect, the influ 
ence of the pope, and the prevailing doctrine; and, hence 
proceeded that important change? called the Reformation. 
The Lutheran princes of Germany, finding that liberty of 
conscience was denied them, combined for their own de¬ 
fence ; and, as they protested against the votes passed in 
the imperial diet, they received the appellation of protest- 
ants. To the arguments of Luther, Henry replied in Latin, 
with considerable ability: as a return for which voluntary 
service, the pope conferred upon him the title of Defender 
of the Faith; an appellation still used by his successors: 
though they have rejected the doctrines by which it was 
obtained, and those which the work of Henry had con¬ 
demned, are now the fundamental principles of the Church 
of England. 

Of the arbitrary measures pursued by the British mon- 
archs, in those days, we can form some idea, by the follow¬ 
ing instance. When Henry heard that the commons were 
reluctant in granting him a supply of money, he was so 
provoked, that he sent for Edward Montague, one of the 
members, who had considerable influence; to whom, he 
cried out: “ Ho ! man ! will they not suffer my bill to 
pass ?” And laying his hand on Montague’s head, who was 
then on his knees before him, as was customary: “ Get my 
bill passed by to-morrow ; or else, to-morrow, this head of 
yours shall be off.” Next day the bill was passed. 

150 ^ The inauspicious marriage with Catherine, origi¬ 
nally contracted against his will, but afterward* 
consummated with deliberation, the king, though she h \4 
given him an heiress, now endeavoured to disrolv t i . The i© 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


109 


feelings of conscience, which once produced a hesitation, 
had been quelled; but, at this time, it seems, after a lapse 
of nearly twenty years, they revived. There lately had 
appealed at court a young lady, named Anne Bolevn, who 
was created maid oi honour to the queen. This female, 
whose grandeur and misfortunes have rendered her so cele¬ 
brated, was daughter of sir Thomas Boleyn, grand-daugh¬ 
ter of the duke ol Norlolk, and related to all the principal 
nobility of the kingdom; and was not less remarkable for 
the graces of her person, than the accomplishments of her 
mind. She soon became the object of his admiration; but, 
finding that her virtue was unconquerable, he resolved to 
raise her to the throne; and applied to the pope for a di¬ 
vorce from Catherine. Wearied, however, by the frequent 
oostponements of the Roman pontiff, Henry, at length, ob¬ 
tained from the English bishops a dissolution of his mar 
riage, after which he espoused his favourite. 

During the various negotiations with the pope, relating 
to the divorce, Wolsey had practised his accustomed dis¬ 
simulation; and the king now determined that the ruin of 
the cardinal should be as rapid as his elevation. He ac¬ 
cordingly removed him from the situation of chancellor; 
and in his place appointed sir Thomas More: the first 
person that was regularly qualified for that office, and who, 
besides the ornaments of literature, possessed the highest 
degree of political capacity and virtue. Wolsey was or¬ 
dered to depart from his palace in London: [now called 
Whitehall:] his furniture and plate were converted to the 
king’s use: he was convicted in the Star Chamber, and 
abandoned to all the rigour of the parliament. It was voted, 
that he was out of the king’s protection: that his lands 
and goods were forfeited; and that his person might be 
committed to custody. He was, however, pardoned for 
the present; and, after being compelled to move from one 
place to another, took up his residence at Cawood, in 
Yorkshire. At length, he was, by order of the king, ar¬ 
rested, on a charge of high treason; and, on his way tu 
London, being attacked by a severe illness, was obliged to 
stop at Leicester Abbey; where, he shortly afterwards ex¬ 
pired. On his death bed, he exclaimed, “ Had I but served 
God, as diligently as I have served the king, he would not 
have deserted me in my grey hairs.” 
j In the autumn of this year, the new queen had a 

daughter, called Elizabeth; who afterwards swayed 
the sceptre with so much renown. Parliament confirmed 
K 2 



110 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

• 

the ecclesiastical sentence which had annulled the former 
marriage: that with Anne was ratified: Mary, the daugh¬ 
ter of Catherine, was excluded from the succession : the 
crown was appointed to descend to the issue of this mar¬ 
riage; and an oath enjoined to be taken in favour ol the 
new order of inheritance. Fisher, bishop of Rochester, 
and sir Thomas More, were the only persons of rank who 
expressed a doubt of its legality, and were both committed 
m the Tower. 

But the persecution of these accomplished men, did not 
cease with imprisonment. Henry having now thrown off 
all dependence on the see of Rome, and resolved to abolish 
entirely me papal authority in England ; and the parlia¬ 
ment having conferred on him a new title,—“ Supreme 
head, on earth, of the Church of England,’’ they were, for 
refusing to acknowledge this supremacy, most unjustly, 
condemned, and taken to the block. They both suffered 
with unshaken fortitude; and More preserved, to the very 
last, his accustomed cheerfulness, and even his pleasantry. 
When he was mounting the scaffold, he said to a person 
near him. 4 Friend, help me up, and, when I come down 
again, let me shift for myself.” The executioner having 
asked his forgiveness, he granted his request; but told 
him, * You will never gain credit, by beheading me, my 
neck is so short.” Then, laying his head upon the block, 
he bade the executioner wait till he put aside his beard; 
“ For,’" said he, “ it never committed treason.” 

In the year following, queen Catherine yielded to a lin 
gering indisposition, in the fiftieth year of her age; having 
written, a little before she expired, an affectionate letter to 
the king. On the death of her rival, Anne, it is said, ex¬ 
pressed her satisfaction in a manner much to be condemned. 
But the time was short, during which she was allowed to 
enjoy her exultation. The affection, which had subsisted 
c o warmly under difficulties, had no sooner obtained posses¬ 
sion of its object, than it languished from satiety. Henry’s 
love was now transferred to another object—lady Jane Sey- 
nour, a maid of honour to the queen. The enemies which 
Anne had made by her attachment to the reformed religion, 
seized every opportunity of hastening her fall; and invent¬ 
ed most scandalous slanders, to inflame the jealousy of the 
king. Of these charges, she appears to have been entirely 
innocent; yet, she had a certain gaiety, if not levity of man¬ 
ner, which gave weight to the accusations. Being brought 
to trial, she was condemned to be burned or beheaded, at the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Ill 


king's pleasure. When this dreadful sentence was pro¬ 
nounced, she was not terrified; but, lifting up her hands to 
heaven, she exclaimed: u O, Father! O, Creator! thou who 
art the way, the truth, and the life, thou knowest that 1 
have not deserved this death.” She was soon beheaded; 
and her body was negligently thrown into a common chest 
made to hold arrows, and buried in the Tower. 

The best evidence, perhaps, that can, at this time, be of 
fered, to establish the innocence of Anne, is, that the very 
day after this bloody catastrophe, Henry was married to 
Jane Seymour. 

A parliament was then called. The children of the two 
former marriages were declared illegitimate; and the crown 
was settled on the king’s issue by Jane, or any subsequent 
wife. The progress of the reformation continued; being 
favoured by the king’s disgust at the Roman pontiff, the ex¬ 
treme submission, to the royal will, of the parliament and 
the ecclesiastical convocations, and the general feeling of 
the nation. The reduction of the monastic establishments 
went forward with rapidity. In a little time, were sup¬ 
pressed, upwards of three-thousand of these institutions; 
more frequently the encouragers of idleness than of religion. 

But, of all the instruments of superstition, none was so 
zealously destroyed, as the shrine of Thomas a Becket, 
commonly called St. Thomas of Canterbury. The devotion 
towards him had quite effaced, in that place, the adoration 
of the Deity. In a particular year, there was not offered 
at the altar of God a single penny, though at Becket’s there 
was given above nine-hundred pounds. 

It is evident, how obnoxious to Henry a saint of this re¬ 
putation must have been; and how contrary to all his plans 
for degrading the authority of the court of Rome. He not 
only pillaged his rich shrine, but cited the saint himselt 
to appear in court, condemned him as a traitor, ordered hh 
name to be erased from the calendar, his bones to be burn 
ed, and his ashes to be thrown into the air. 

An event now occurred, which Henry had long 
1537 ^ and ardently desired—the birth of a son; who wa3 
called Edward, and created prince of Wales. Yet, this 
happiness was not without alloy; for, in two days afterwards, 
he lost his queen. 

The business of dictating to the nation in matters of re 
ligion, was unceasing. What the king thought fit to or¬ 
der, the parliament was always ready to support; not only 
m spiritual, but in temporal, concerns: so that, it may 


112 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


justly said, that the power of Henry, through his entire 
reign, was absolute and undisputed. On the one hand, 
anxious to restrain the pope; on the other, to oppose his 
own opinions to the bold doctrines of the reformers; every 
day was pregnant with a royal mandate, and that mandate 
was most frequently in opposition to the dogmas of the 
preceding. Adherence to the old, or accordance with the 
new tenets, was equally fatal, because both were at variance 
with the king’s: and those who preferred a glorious death 
to a disgraceful denial of their faith, were soon surrounded 
by consuming flames. A new law was often made, before 
the old, of a contrary tenor, was repealed. Both protest 
ants and catholics were subject to the penalties of his vari 
ous statutes; and it was not uncommon to see two persons 
burning in the same fire, for entertaining opinions that were 
directly opposite. 

1539. Henr >b however, was not so entirely engaged by 
the controversies of religion, as to prevent his look 
ing out for another queen. By the advice of Cromwell, 
the primate, a marriage was concluded with Anne of Cleves, 
a princess of Germany. On her way to London, the king 
impatient to ascertain the correctness of the pictures of his 
new bride, went privately to Rochester, and saw her. He 
found her as large, indeed, and as tall as he could wish; but 
utterly devoid both of grace and beauty. The matter was 
still worse, when he found that she could speak no language 
except Dutch; ol which he was entirely ignorant. He 
would have immediately sent her back, only that political 
motives restrained him: but a divorce was soon obtained; 
to which the queen contentedly submitted. 

To this measure, he had been impelled, by two most pow¬ 
erful passions—aversion to one object, and inclination to¬ 
wards another. He had fixed his eyes on lady Catherine 
Howard, niece to the duke of Norfolk. Catherine and the 
duke, being violently inimical to Cromwell, because he fa¬ 
voured the protestant opinions, to which they were as strenu¬ 
ously opposed, urged a prosecution against that minister 
on a charge of heresy and treason: and he fell an innocent 
victim to their malice. Ten days, only, elapsed, bdtweeu 
the divorce from Anne, and the nuptials with lady Cathe¬ 
rine; and only a few months had passed, when this new 
queen, destitute of every virtue, both now, and before her 
marriage, was taken to the scaffold. 

Though Henry had been already deprived of five wives; 
by divorce, by the hand of nature, and by the executioner; 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 7,3 

yet, in about a year and a half from this, he espoused his 
sixth w iie, Catherine Par, widow of Lord Latimer. She 
was a virtuous woman, but was nearly losing her head, by 
her attachment to the reformation. 

1544. , Henr y w as now at war with both Scotland and 
France. He sent some troops to invade the former; 
who were disembarked at Leith, and then marched to Edin¬ 
burgh ; which city they plundered and burned; and lie 
himself, with a large army, passed over into France : but, 
being deserted by his ally, the emperor, his operations were 
not productive oi any material success; and a peace, in 
which Scotland was included, ended the campaign. 

1 he hatred felt by the king, for some time past, towards 
the family of Howard, from the imputations against Anne 
Boleyn, and the bad conduct of Catherine, (both related to 
the duke of Norfolk) was now inflamed by a swelling in 
his limbs, as well as the declining of his health in general. 
1 he duke and his son, the earl of Surry, were brought to 
trial; and, upon charges which could not be substantiated, 
were found guilty. The earl was beheaded—the sudden 
death of the king prevented Norfolk from experiencing a 
similar fate. 

He had retired to his seat at Croydon, in Surry; where 
he expired in the thirty-eighth year of his reign, and sixty 
sixth of his age. About a month before, he had made his 
will: in which, the previous destination of the parliament 
was confirmed, by leaving the crown, first to Edward, then, 
to Mary, and next, to Elizabeth. 

During this reign, a great variety of laws were enact¬ 
ed ; some beneficial, others injurious, to the community. 
Amongst the former, was one for depriving criminals of 
the privilege of sanctuary, when guilty of enormous of 
fences : amongst the latter, were many for fixing the prices 
of labour and provisions, and an act for regulating the in 
terest on money. 

Until nearly the end of this reign, neither garden vege 
tables, nor small fruits, of any kind, were cultivated in Eng 
land; having, previously, been imported from Holland 
When queen Catherine wanted a sallad, she was obliged 
to send a messenger to that country. 

Although there was now used in the army a sort of 
musket with a matchlock, called a caliver or harquebuse, 
the bow, which had been brought over by the Normans, 
was still a favourite and powerful weapon in the hands of 
the English soldier. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


114 

The casting of iron was introduced ; cannon-balls of this 
metal were used in the place of stone; and a law was made 
concerning bankrupts. 

Literature was patronized by the king and cardinal Wol- 
sev. It was the latter who founded in Oxford the first chair 
for teaching Greek: which novelty rent that university 
into most violent factions. The students divided them 
selves into two parties—Greeks and Trojans; and some¬ 
times fought with as great animosity as was displayed by 
those hostile nations, in their celebrated encounters. The 
institution at Oxford having excited the emulation of Cam¬ 
bridge, the rivalship was of important benefit, in correcting 
the pronunciation. Dramatic poetry was cultivated by Hay 
wood; and Leland was an assiduous recorder of antiquities 

EDWARD THE SIXTH. 

154T—1553. 

For the government of the kingdom, during the minority 
of his son, who now ascended the throne in his tenth year, 
the late king appointed sixteen executors and twelve coun¬ 
sellors; amongst whom, were, Cranmer, archbishop of Can¬ 
terbury; Seymour, earl of Hertford, maternal uncle to the 
king; lord Seymour, brother to the earl; and sir Edward 
Montague, chief justice of the common pleas. Hertford, 
who was chosen protector, and created duke of Somerset, 
had long been regarded as a secret partisan of the reform¬ 
ers ; arid being now freed from restraint, he used every ex¬ 
ertion to repress the old religion, and give encouragement 
to the new. He took care, that those intrusted with the 
education of the king, should be of his own creed; by which 
means, the protestant opinions of young Edward, already 
inculcated, were confirmed. Cranmer, though more mode¬ 
rate in his actions than the protector, was a sincere pro¬ 
moter of the reformation; and to him, was opposed, Gardi¬ 
ner, bishop of Winchester. At length, however, the prin 
cipal ceremonies of the Roman Catholics were abolished; 
and a form of worship, very nearly resembling that of the 
present Church of England, and the protestant episcopal 
church of the United States, was established throughout 
the kingdom. But that scope which the reformers had 
given to their own judgment, in disputing the principles of 
the ancient religion, was not allowed to others; not only 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 115 

the practice, but the very doctrine, of toleration, being 
then, to every sect, unknown. ’ ^ 

Hostility with both Scotland and France was now so 
much a matter of course, that, on the commencement of a 
reign, we do not more regularly look for the account of a 
coronation,-than a war. In compliance with the late kinir’a 
desire, the protector demanded, that Mary Stuart, the young 
queen ot Scots, whose mother was sister to Henry, should 
be married to the king of England: Arran, her guardian, 
as resolutely opposed the union: Somerset invaded hei 
territory ; and in a great engagement, called the battle of 
rinkey, lord Arran was defeated, with the loss of ten-thou- 
Scmd men. As a last resource, Mary was sent over to 
r r ance; where she was soon after contracted to the dauphin 

I he victory at Pinkey was ascribed chiefly to the cour¬ 
age and ability of Warwick; a man alike conspicuous for 
Ins talents and his contempt of justice. Having by his in¬ 
trigues induced the protector to exercise the royal autho¬ 
rity against lord Seymour, this nobleman Avas, in conse¬ 
quence, tried, found guilty, and executed. Although Sey¬ 
mour Avas not entirely innocent of the charges of sedition 
y et he Avas obnoxious to the earl of Warwick more as a 
rival, than as a disturber of tranquillity. 

Somerset himself was next removed. Having grown 
extremely unpopular, by the part which he bad taken in 
'is hi others death, and his having pulled doAvn several 
churches, to make room, or furnish materials for a palace 
in the Strand, Warwick*was enabled to deprive him of his 
office, and to gain an entire ascendency in the government. 
LiC also obtained the titles and estates of the house of Per¬ 
cy; as sir Thomas, the heir of that family, had been at¬ 
tainted for rebellion. Thus, by the greatness of his acqui¬ 
sitions, the ruin, Avhich he had been so earnestly preparing 
for the duke of Somerset, could noAv, without danger, be 
completed. The duke Avas brought to trial, upon a variety 
of charges. None, hoAvever, of a treasonable nature, could 
be pi oved; but, by his OA\ T n confession, of having enter¬ 
tained a design against the lives of Wanvick (lately created 
duke of Northumberland) and others, to Avhich he had been 
impelled by repeated insults, he Avas convicted, and, accord¬ 
ingly, beheaded. 

The princess Mary, a sister of Henry the eighth, had, on 
the decease of her husband, the king of France, espoused 
Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk. From them, Avas de¬ 
scended lady Jane Gray; Avho, considering the opposite de- 


116 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


crees which affected the titles of Henry’s two daughters 
Mary and Elizabeth, had, certainly, fair pretensions to the 
crown. To that lady, Northumberland married his fourth 
son, lord Guildford Dudley; and then, by his artifices, so 
influenced the king, whose youth and declining health made 
him susceptible of every impression, that, by the royal let¬ 
ters patent, he set aside his sisters, and vested the succes¬ 
sion in ladv Jane. 

¥ 

The symptoms of Edward’s complaint became every day 
more alarming: his physicians were removed: in their 
place, was substituted a feeble and ignorant woman; and 
in a short ame the young prince yielded to the effects of 
the disorder or the medicines. He expired at Greenwich 
in the sixteenth year of his age and the seventh of his reign 
highly respected for his mildness of disposition, his love 
of equity, and application to business and literature. 

The prospect of opening a communication with China, 
by a north-east passage, induced the English, at this peri¬ 
od, to send out three vessels, under the command of sir 
Hugh Willoughby; who steered directly along the coast 
of Norway, and doubled the North Cape. But, having 
been separated in a storm, Willoughby, with two of the 
vessels, took refuge in a desert part of Russian Lapland ; 
where he, and all his companions, were frozen to death. 
Chancelour, the captain of the other, having entered the 
White Sea, wintered at Archangel; and, although no for¬ 
eign vessels had before visited that part of the globe, they 
were received there with the greatest hospitality. Being 
informed that it was part of a vast empire subject to the 
Czar of Muscovy, who resided in a great city twelve-hun¬ 
dred miles from Archangel, he instantly set out for the 
capital; which was Moscow. Here, he was treated with 
respect: and, thenceforward, an intercourse continued be¬ 
tween England and Russia. 

MARY. 

* 

553 — 1558 . 

The late attempt to violate the order of succession, by 
having the crown assigned to Jane, so fully displayed the 
ambition and injustice of Northumberland, that, when the 
people reflected on the long train of fraud and cruelty, by 
which that project ha.d been conducted, they were moved by 




HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 117 

indignation to exert themselves in opposition to such crimi¬ 
nal enterprises. 

Lady Jane is alike the object of our pity and admira¬ 
tion. Amiable, engaging, accomplished, she was worthy 
of the most exalted throne; as well by her acquirements, 
as by her reluctant acceptance of what she supposed to be 
another’s right. 

Orders were given by the council to proclaim Jane 
throughout the kingdom; but they were observed only 
near the court. No applause ensued: on account of the 
hatred, of all parties, towards Northumberland, they heard 
the proclamation with silence and concern, or with eypas¬ 
sions of contempt. At this time, Mary was in Suffolk. 
There, having declared, that she would not alter the reli¬ 
gious establishments of Edward, the nobility and gentry 
flocked with their adherents to her standard. The duke 
of Northumberland being deserted by the council and the 
army, lady Jane, after wearing the crown but ten days, re¬ 
turned to the more pleasing enjoyment of a private life. 
Northumberland was arrested by the earl of Arundel, and 
suffered the punishment which he so justly merited. Sen¬ 
tence of death was pronounced also against lady Jane 
Gray, and her husband, lord Guildford Dudley; but, with¬ 
out any intention, then, of putting it in execution. Indeed, 
their innocence and youth, neither having reached seven¬ 
teen years, pleaded amply in their favour. 

But the joy arising from the accession of the lawful heir, 
was succeeded by disgust. The queen soon displayed that 
malignity of disposition, which, throughout her reign, was 
so destructively exercised on her unhappy subjects. Bkro< 
ry, cruelty, tyranny, and revenge, were the strongest pas¬ 
sions of her mind: and these were well depicted in the for¬ 
bidding cast of her exterior. From her earliest years, she 
had imbibed an aversion to the reformed religion; and now, 
contrary to her solemn pledges, she reinstated in their sees 
all the most violent of her own party, and established 
throughout the kingdom the Roman Catholic form of wor¬ 
ship. The prisons were crowded with the protestants: the 
flames burned with unexampled fierceness; and all who re¬ 
fused to subscribe to the religion of the queen, were sacri¬ 
ficed by the ferocity of persecution. Amongst those dis¬ 
tinguished for intolerance, may be mentioned, Gardiner, 
bishop of Winchester, and Bonner, bishop of London. The 
prelates who suffered martyrdom, were Cranmer, Ridley, 
Latimer, Hooper, and Ferrar 
L 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

1 554. ^ ma rriage was this year solemnized between 

Mary and Philip the second of Spain, son of Charles 
the fifth. Her husband was little calculated to gain the 
affections of the nation; being as gloomy and tyrannical as 
the queen herself; and public feeling was soon displayed 
by an insurrection. 1 his rebellion was, however, after 
much bloodshed, suppressed. But the vengeance of the 
queen reached even to the innocent. Lady Jane Gray and 
lord Guildford Dudley suffered for the actions of their 
friends. Notice was given this amiable and interesting 
couple to prepare for death; and they were soon relieved 
from their anxiety. * On the scaffold, Lady Jane said, that 
her offence was not her laying her hands upon the crown, 
but her not rejecting it with sufficient constancv; and that 
she willingly received death, as the only satisfaction she 
could make to her injured country. 

Soon afterwards, the duke of Suffolk, father of lady 
Jane, was taken to the block; where, he would have met 
with more compassion, had not his temerity caused his 
daughter’s untimely end. 

1555 England was now at war with France; and, by 
.* the negligence of government, Calais, the only place 
remaining to the British, on the continent, was taken bv 
the duke of Guise- after being in their possession above 
two-hundred years. This event sunk deep into the mind 
ol Mary. She had long been in a delicate state of health: 
a variety of reflections now tormented her, and threw her 
into a fever; of which she died, in the sixth year of her 
reign and the forty-third of her age. Cardinal Pole, de¬ 
scended from the royal family, who had, for a considerable 
• ime, laboured under bodily afflictions, expired on the same 
day. 

At this timp, the dwellings of people, even of considera¬ 
ble estate, were very meanly constructed. They were of 
plank, badly put together, and chimneys were almost un¬ 
known m England. The fire was kindled by the wall and 
the smoke found its way through the roof, door, or windows. 
I he furniture was appropriate. The people slept on straw 
pallets, having a log under their heads for a pillow and 
almost every domestic utensil was of wood. Dinner and 
supper were taken about an hour earlier than at present- 

which were their only meals; breakfast not being then iii 
use. ° 




HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
ELIZABETH. 


119 


1558 — 1603 . 

This princess, the daughter of Henry the eighth and 
Anne Boleyn, ascended the throne in her twenty-sixth 
year. Her principal ministers were, sir William Cecil, 
(afterwards lord Burleigh,) and sir Francis Walsingham; 
mefn of highly eminent abilities. 

Although it was generally believed that she had em¬ 
braced a religion opposite to that which now prevailed in 
England, yet, so much were men displeased with the con¬ 
duct of the late queen, that, overlooking their theological 
disputes, they expressed unfeigned joy at the coronation of 
Elizabeth. When she was conducted through London, 
amidst the acclamations of the people, a boy, who person¬ 
ated Truth, descended from one of the triumphal arches, 
and presented her with a copy of the Bible. She received 
it with the most gracious deportment, placed it next her 
bosom, and declared, that amidst all the costly testimonies 
of their attachment which the citizens had on that day 
given her, this present was by far the most acceptable. In 
this manner, did the queen gain the affections of her sub 
jects. Gracious and affable in public, she joined in their 
amusements, without departing from her dignity; and, 
notwithstanding the high and unbending tenor of her gov¬ 
ernment, she acquired a popularity, greater than was ever 
attained by any other sovereign of England. 

Though the queen, previous to her coronation, had made 
several alterations in the existing ceremonies of the church, 
yet she delayed the entire change until the meeting of par¬ 
liament. Immediately on its assembling, the statutes of 
Edward the sixth with regard to religion were confirmed; 
many fresh innovations were made, and the Protestant re¬ 
ligion was again established throughout the entire kingdom 
It was not thought sufficient to prohibit, by severe penalties, 
the celebration of the Mass : the Roman Catholics, and all 
other sects, without distinction, were even compelled to par 
take in the Liturgy of the court—Such measures are not 
only unjust,but ineffective. We cannot refrain from con¬ 
demning the slightest exercise of inquisitorial power. Uni¬ 
formity of opinion can never be produced by violence. 

This parliament was completely obsequious to the royal 
will; all the members having been nominated by the court. 
Indeed, during her whole reign, Elizabeth swayed the 


120 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


sceptre with an authority unrestrained by the least regard 
to the constitution; and, to this domineering spirit both 
lords and commons submitted, with a degree of tameness 
and servility, which stamps their memories with indelible 
disgrace. They might indeed give directions for the due 
tanning of leather, or the milling of cloth ; the assessment 
of taxes, the, mending of decayed bridges, or the whipping 
of beggars, any thing further, she thought, was above 
their understanding. Three representatives, however, 
Carleton, Yelverton, and Peter Wentworth, resolutely sup¬ 
ported parliamentary independence. 

We come now to the most interesting, though, certainly, 
the most disagreeable, part of the history, of this celebrated 
reign. 

The lineal heir to the crown, after Elizabeth, was Mary 
queen of Scots, (descended from Margaret, a sister of Henry 
the eighth, and wife of James the fourth of Scotland,) who 
still resided abroad, and now, as wife of Francis the second, 
enjoyed also the title of queen of France. As both, by di¬ 
rection of the late French king, had assumed not only the 
arms, but the royal titles, of England, Elizabeth persever¬ 
ed in opposing the wishes of the nation, that Mary should 
be acknowledged her successor; nor could she, until her 
latest breath, be induced to concur in the appointment even 
ot another. Always fearful of an heir apparent, she amus¬ 
ed the parliament by most artful evasions; and though she 
had frequently declared her resolutions to remain unmar¬ 
ried, she listened to the addresses of her numerous lovers; 
but, with the most refined coquetry, held her parliament 
and her lovers equally in suspense: the one by the hopes 
of an heir; the other by the expectation of a bride. 

1561 ^e ^ eat ^ the French monarch naturally m- 
' duced Mary to return to Scotland ; and no woman, * 
perhaps, ever experienced so great a change, in point of 
social enjoyment. To the gay and easy manners of the 
French, were now opposed the rough familiarities of the 
Scotch : to the splendid exterior of the Roman Catholic 
worship, the total abolition of the ancient rites. Every 
insult, that the violerice of fanaticism could produce, was 
offered to her, without reserve; to which harsh and prepos¬ 
terous treatment, may, in part, be ascribed, those errors of 
her subsequent life, so much at variance with the tenor of 
her early conduct. For, hitherto, her deportment had been 
amiable.—She had now reached her nineteenth year : and 
the bioom of youth, and beauty of her person, were height 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


12 


ened by the politeness of her manners, and the elegance of 
her acquirements. Her age, her rank, her education, in¬ 
vited her to liberty and cheerfulness; but, by the absurd 
severity of the reformers, she was debarred from every 
amusement; and her uncles, with the other french no¬ 
bility, were driven to their own country, in disgust. 

Notwithstanding the umbrage which Elizabeth had con¬ 
ceived, arising from Mary’s having openly usurped the 
English dignities, and the resentment which the latter, on 
her side, might justly feel against Elizabeth, on account of 
the active part she had taken to encourage the Scotch in 
opposition to her rival, a cordial friendship seemed to be 
cemented between them: they wrote, every week, amicable 
letters to each other; and adopted the style and sentiments 
of sisters. 

As Mary’s uncle, the duke of Guise, was endeavour¬ 
ing to form a matrimonial alliance with her and the Arch¬ 
duke Charles, Elizabeth, to prevent it, not only gave this 
prince some hopes of obtaining herself, but intimated to 
Mary, that if she would espouse an English nobleman, her 
title to the crown of England should be examined. The 
person whom she named, was the earl of Leicestei. This 
nobleman, a son of the late duke of Northumberland, had 
long* been the favourite of Elizabeth, and, by his handsome 
person and insinuating address, had so deceived hei, that 
she discovered not the odious vices of his disposition. IMa- 
ry listened to the proposal: but Leicester was too great a 
favourite to be parted with; and Elizabeth soon withdrew 
the bait. Ey this duplicity ol conduct, joined to some in¬ 
dications of insolent superiority, the correspondence of the 
two queens was for some time interrupted; but, to make 
up the breach, JVIary despatched to London sii James Mel¬ 
ville; a courtier of pleasing address and conversation. 
Melville insinuated himself completely into the confidence 
of Elizabeth, and made her discover the recesses of her 
heart, full of those levities, and ideas of rivalship, which 
possess the youngest and most frivolous of her sex. Some¬ 
times, she was dressed in the English costume—some- 
times in the French—at another time, in the Italian; and 
she asked him which of these became her most. He an¬ 
swered, the Italian: a reply which he knew would be agree¬ 
able- because that mode showed to advantage her flowing 
locks- which, he remarked, though they were more red 
than yellow, she fancied were the handsomest in the world. 
She asked, whether his queen, or she, had the finest hair. 

- L 2 


122 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


She even inquired which had the fairest person—a very 
delicate question; which he prudently eluded, by saving 1 , 
that her majesty was the fairest person in England, and his 
mistress, in Scotland. From the whole of her behaviour, 
Melville concluded, that his queen had no reason ever to 
expect any cordial friendship from Elizabeth; and that all 
nei professions were lull ot falsehood and dissimulation. 

At length, Mary was married to lord Darnley, son to 
the earl of Lenox, of the house of Stuart, and, after her 
heir to the crown of England. Elizabeth was so enraged 
at this, that she threw the countess of Lenox and her 
second son into the Tower, and confiscated the earl’s 
English estate; though without being able to assign a 
single reason for her displeasure. 

.But Mary had overlooked the qualities of her husband’s 
mind: insolent, credulous, and^easily governed by flatter- 
eis, all domestic enjoymehts were poisoned by those pro¬ 
pensities, and the whole nation soon became a scene of fac¬ 
tion and confusion. Of these, Elizabeth was always sure 
to take advantage. There was, at this time, in the Scottish 
court, one David Rizzio, an Italian musician, who enjoy- 
ec, with Mary, an extraordinary degree of confidence, and 
acted as secretary for French despatches. By these fav¬ 
ours, and his joining the Roman Catholic party, he be¬ 
came so obnoxious, that a conspiracy was formed against 
him. Lord Ruthven, George Douglas, Darnley, and some 

1566 . others > entered the room where Mary, with the 
countess of .Argyle, and Rizzio, was at supper; and, 
rushing upon the favourite, they despatched him with their 
daggers. 

Henceforth, Mary conceived an incurable antipathy to¬ 
wards Darnley. Now, commenced, the decline of all her 
grandeur, and a total contempt of virtue, or even of char¬ 
acter. She attached herself to lord Bothwell: the murder 
ot her husband was soon effected; and, of their being the 
perpetrators of that horrid deed, no reasonable doubt re¬ 
mains! Scarcely three months had passed, before she was 
married to this man; though he then had a wife alive. The 
earl of Argyle, lord Hume, and many more, flew to arms. 
Bothwell escaped .to Denmark; Mary was dethroned and 
imprisoned, and her infant son, by Darnley, was proclaimed 
king, under the title of James the sixth. 

I he miserable queen escaped into England. Here, be* 
mg again imprisoned, she desired to exonerate herself bv 
trial, from the charge of her husband’s murder: and?, m 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


123 


consequence, many meetings of the Scotch and English 
commissioners took place; but without a decision In the 
mean time, the duke of Norfolk, contrary to the wishes of 
Elizabeth, having made Mary a tender of his hand, she 
promised to espouse him, as soon as she could be legally 
divorced from Bothwell. Though Norfolk was a protest- 
ant, he was highly respected amongst the great catholic no¬ 
bility; by whose influence, and that of the king of Spain 
he joined Mary in a plan of insurrection, invasion, and sub¬ 
version of the government. This conspiracy, however, be¬ 
ing detected, the duke was condemned and executed. The 
unhappy queen, during a long series of years, was remov¬ 
ed from prison to prison; still, naturally, forming plans for 
her liberation. At length, she was charged with associat 
mg in a conspiracy, which aimed even at the life of Eliza¬ 
beth, and was conveyed to Fotheringay-castle, in North¬ 
amptonshire; which, it was determined, should be the last 
stage of her earthly sufferings. Here, she was brought to 
trial and condemned. As soon as her son, the king of Scot¬ 
land, heard of this event, he sent sir William Keith with a 
letter to Elizabeth; in which, he remonstrated, in severe 
terms, against the indignity and cruelty of the procedure. 
But this exercise of filial duty had no effect. After delays, 
produced rather by dissimulation than humanity, she sign- 
1587 ec ^ warraiit f° r h cr execution ; and Mary’s head 
was soon severed from her body. Thus, perished* 
this unfortunate female, in the forty-fifth year of her age, 
and nineteenth of her captivity in England. 

During these transactions, Elizabeth was engaged in 
succouring the protestants in France and the Low Coun¬ 
tries. In the latter, the infamous Philip of Spain, aided by 
the equally atrocious duke of Alva, had driven the follow¬ 
ers of Luther to so great a pitch of desperation, that they 
flew to arms ; and, in a few days, the provinces of Holland 
and Zealand shook off his authority. William, prince of 
Orange, by uniting the revolted districts into a league, laid 
the foundation of the celebrated Dutch Commonwealth; 
since erected into a monarchy, called the kingdom of the 
Netherlands. 

Francis Drake, a bold and celebrated seaman, fitted out, 
at his own expense, five vessels, with which he passed 
through the Strait of Magellan, into the Pacific Ocean: 
then, having taken many rich prizes from the Spaniards, 
he set sail for the East Indies, and returned by the Cape of 
Good Hope, after an absence of more than three yeais. He 


124 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


was the first Englishman that sailed round the glebe, and 
the first commander, of any nation; (Magellan, whose ship 
had before performed the same voyage, having died in 
the passage;) for which memorable achievement, he was 
knighted by the queen. 

In retaliation for Elizabeth’s enmity, Philip sent a small 
body of men into Ireland. But the earl of Ormond besieg¬ 
ed them in Kerry, where they had erected a fort, and made 
them all prisoners. 

15g8 Accounts were now received from all quarters, 
of an immense armament nearly completed by the 
Spaniards; whose monarch, founding his pretensions to the 
English crown, upon his descent from a female branch of 
the house of Lancaster, and the will of his late consort 
Mary, meditated the invasion and entire conquest of Eng¬ 
land. The chief support of the kingdom seemed to consist 
in the vigour and prudence of the queen; who, undismayed 
by the present dangers, issued all her orders with tran¬ 
quillity. The more to excite the martial ardour of the na¬ 
tion, she appeared, on horseback, in the camp at Tilbury; 
and, riding along the lines, cheered the soldiers by her 
eloquence, and the animation of her countenance. People 
of every class, and of every religion, forgot their animosi¬ 
ties, and strove only for the safety of their country. The 
royal navy of England amounted only to twenty-eight sail, 
o( but small size : all the sailors in the kingdom, to four¬ 
teen-thousand ; however, the seaports freely contributed 
to increase the fleet, and what was wanting in the number, 
was supplied by the bravery and experience, of the men. 
Lord Howard of Effingham, a man of courage and capacity, 
was admiral; and, under him, were, Drake, Hawkins, and 
Frobisher; the most renowned seamen in the world. The 
admiral had scarcely got out of Plymouth, when he saw the 
Spanish Armada (by which name this famous armament 
is known) coming full sail towards him, disposed in the 
form of a crescent, and displaying a front of no less than 
seven miles. It consisted of one-hundred-and-thirty ves¬ 
sels, of larger size than were ever before used in Europe, 
and had on board thirty-thousand men.—As the Armada 
advances up the Channel, Effingham hangs upon its rear, 
occasionally giving battle; when, each trial abates the con¬ 
fidence of the Spaniards, and adds courage to the English. 
The fire of the enemy passes over the heads of their as¬ 
sailants, whilst almost every English shot is the messenger 
of death, Effingham now sends fire-ships amongst the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


1 Z5 


Spaniards:—nothing is to be seen but terror and confu 
sion:—they take to flight—the English seize the advan¬ 
tage and pursue; but want of ammunition constrains them 
to desist. 

Their disasters were not yet completed. A violent tern 
pest overtook them, driving them either upon the coast of 
Ireland, or on the Western isles of Scotland; where, they 
were so miserably wrecked or shattered, that not hall of the 
boasted armament returned to Spain. 

From the noble breed of horses then driven on these 
places, are descended the beautiful little race of Scotch 
ponies; which, without the size, retain all the spirit, and 
all the symmetry, of their progenitors. 

The affairs of Ireland next demand attention. Al- 

599 ’ though the claim of England to that country had 
now existed above four centuries, her authority was, hither¬ 
to, little more than nominal. The Irish princes and nobles 
divided amongst themselves, readily paid exterior marks of 
obeisance to a power which they were not able wholly to 
resist; but, as no permanent force was ever assigned for 
the purpose of retaining them in subjection, they still re¬ 
lapsed into their former state of independence. The laws 
enacted for the government of this unhappy country, were 
ungenerous and absurd. When every other Christian na¬ 
tion was cultivating the sciences, and the refinements of 
society, Ireland, lying in a temperate climate, enjoying a 
fertile soil, with many other natural advantages, was in¬ 
habited by a people whose situation was deplorable. To 
suppress the extensive insurrections of the O’Neales, (the 
earls of Desmond and Thomond,) the queen sent over a 
powerful army, under the command of Devereux, earl of 
Essex; whom she appointed lord lieutenant of Ireland. 
This young nobleman had distinguished himself in many 
naval and military enterprises; and, as the earl of Leices¬ 
ter was now dead,*Essex occupied his place in the queen’s 
affections. But, in Ireland, he was entirely unsuccessful. 
He was recalled—disgraced—received again into favour— 
again dismissed; and being driven, at last, almost to fren 
zy, by the fluctuation of his hopes and disappointments, he 
endeavoured to overturn the government. For this, he was 
condemned, and taken to the scaffold; where he confessed 

the justice of his sentence. 

From the death of Essex, the health of the queen 
1603 * visibly declined. She fell into a profound melancho¬ 
ly, which all the glories of her administration were unable 


1 26 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


to alleviate; and expired in the seventieth year of her age, 
and the forty-fifth of her reign; having expressed a desire 
that the king of Scotland should succeed her. 

Few sovereigns have displayed abilities equal to Eliza¬ 
beth’s; and, certainly, such talents were never shown by 
any other female, in any age, or in any nation. She was a 
woman of considerable accomplishments: Greek and Lat 
in were familiar to her; but she was devoid of that soft 
ness of disposition, without which, her sex are never amia¬ 
ble. Overbearing in the council, her ministers feared her 
as a tiger. Imperious in the palace, her servants dreaded 
her approach. 

Elizabeth founded Trinity College in Dublin; ordered 
the printing of the “ English Mercury,” which was the 
earliest newspaper in the kingdom; established posts for 
the regular transmission of letters; directed the cultivation 
of hemp and flax, and introduced into England the manu¬ 
facture of gunpowder and of brass-cannon. She also grant¬ 
ed a charter to the East India Company; the first voyage 
to the Indian seas having been effected in her reign: des¬ 
patched a squadron for the purpose of finding a passage to 
Hindostan, by the north-west, under the command of 
Frobisher; and another, intrusted to the skill of Davis; 
who were unsuccessful, but respectively, discovered the 
straits that bear their names: and she obtained from the 
czar ol Muscovy a privilege of vending the manufactures 
ol England through his whole dominions, free from duty, as 
well as of carrying them to Persia and Media, by the Cas¬ 
pian sea; the merchants of other nations not being allow¬ 
ed to trade beyond Moscow. Copper-mines were opened, 
and mills erected for slitting iron bars. The printing of 
linen commenced, and the manufacture of paper; and com¬ 
merce was rendered less hazardous to individuals, by in- 
sui ance on ships at sea. The nobility began to build their 
houses ol brick and stone, with glass windows: coaches 
were introduced, pocket-watches brought over from Ger- 
many; and the queen, having received a present of a pair 
oi silk knit-stockings, discontinued the previously universal 
fashion of hose, or stockings made of cloth. Sir Thomas 
Gresham, a merchant, erected in London, at his own ex¬ 
pense, a building, which, in presence of the queen, was 
cafled the Loyal Exchange; and the Bodleian Library, a< 
Oxford, was, with equal liberality, founded and largely en¬ 
dowed by sir Thomas Bodley. 

Though the population of England did not then exceed 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 127 

four millions, the rage of colonization was very great. Sir 
Walter Raleigh made several unsuccessful attempts to 
establish a colony on the island of Roanoke, off the coast 
now called North Carolina; then called Virginia : a name 
given by Elizabeth to all the English discoveries in Ame¬ 
rica during her reign; as a memorial that they were made 
under a virgin queen. Tobacco was brought into England 
from those parts ; and was rendered fashionable by Ra 
leigh; and (in 1565 ) the potato, called battata by the In 
dians, was brought into Ireland from Mexico, by sir John 
Hawkins; being the first of that valuable article of food 
introduced into Europe. 

Elizabeth had the honour of patronizing Spenser and 
Shakespeare, Sackville and sir Philip Sidney. Spenser is 
the author of that admired poem, the Fairy Queen; written 
in a provincial dialect; not in the national language of his 
time. The numerous productions of Shakespeare, show 
that he possessed dramatic talents, and a knowledge of 
human nature, greater than were ever displayed by any 
other man, at any period of the world. Holinshed was 
distinguished for his Chronicles; and Briggs, for his in 
genious researches in mathematics. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

GREAT BRITAIN. 

Union of the English and Scotch Crowns. 

JAMES THE FIRST. 

1603 — 1625 . 

THE sceptre now passed from the house of Tudor to 
that of Stuart; and, henceforward, the crowns of England 
and Scotland were united. 

James the first of England, and sixth of Scotland, was 
son of the unfortunate Mary, and Henry Stuart, lord Darn- 
ley; and grandson of Margaret, daughter of Henry the 
seventh. He had been baptized a Roman Catholic, but was 
afterwards educated in the protestant religion; the famous 
historian, Buchanan, being his tutor. 


12S 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


James was at this time in his thirty-eighth year; was a 
man of considerable learning, of a social disposition, but 
averse to the bustle of the world, and to the noisy demon¬ 
strations of joy, which the people, crowding around him, 
so willingly displayed. lie was not, however, insensible to 
this great overflow of affection. He seems to have been in 
haste to make them some return. Hence, that profusion 
ol favours, in the beginning of his reign. In six weeks 
after his entrance inU* England, he conferred knighthood on 
above two-hundred persons ; and titles of all kinds became 
so common, that they were no longer considered as marks 
of distinction. From an excusable weakness, he was par¬ 
tial to men of his own country; yet, he retained, in all the 
principal offices, the ministers of Elizabeth; and sir Rob¬ 
ert Cecil, created by him earl of Salisbury, (son of the 
great Burleigh) was always regarded as his prime minister. 
1 o congratulate the king on his accession, there soon ap 
peared at court ambassadors from almos-t every state in 
Europe; amongst whom, was the accomplished marquis 
of Rosni, (afterwards duke of Sully,) the favourite min¬ 
ister of the celebrated Henry the fourth, of France. 

Amidst the great tranquillity, with which the nation was 
now blessed, nothing could be more surprising, than the 
discovery of a conspiracy, to place on the throne Arabella 
Stuart, a near relation of the king. Of this, there were ac¬ 
cused, several men of different religions: and, amongst the 
number, sir Walter Raleigh; who was, in consequence, 
(without, however, any satisfactory proof,) condemned to 
die; but afterwards reprieved , though not pardoned _ The 
prosecutions ivere conducted by sir Edward Coke; who 
insulted Raleigh with abuse, so extremely gross, that his 
conduct may be deemed a reproach, not only on his own 
memory, but on the manners of the age. 

1605 This year is remarka ble for one of the most cele- 
* brated events in the history of England—the Gun¬ 
powder Plot: a fact as certain as it appears incredible; 
displaying, at once, the widest departure from moral vir¬ 
tue, and the steadiest attachment to religious prepossession. 
Catesby, a man of respectable family, and Percy, a descend¬ 
ant of the house of Northumberland, were the projectors 
of a scheme, for restoring the Roman Catholics to power; 
and formed the diabolical plan of blowing up the house of 
parliament with gunpowder. “We must destroy,” said 
they, “the king,the royal family, the lords, the commons ^ 
and burv all our enemies in one general ruin. They are 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


129 


now assembled in the first meeting of parliament; and af¬ 
ford us the opportunity of glorious and useful vengeance.” 
for this purpose, they engaged one Guy Fawkes, an officer 
in the Spanish service; with whose zeal and ingenuity, they 
were well acquainted. Happily, however, Providence avert¬ 
ed, by a discovery, this dreadful blow; after the gunpowder 
and the matches were conveyed into a vault under the house 
of lords. Here, Fawkes being seized, he made a full con¬ 
fession of his own guilt, and that of his associates ; who, 
with himself, met the reward which their crime so highly 
merited. But let us not involve the Roman Catholic body 
in this horrid plot. It would be unjust. The king was 
conscious that they were unfairly implicated; and declared, 
that, for his part, the conspiracy, however atrocious, should 
not alter, in the least, his plan of government. 

“ James frequently boasted,” says Hume, “ that the man 
agement of Ireland was his masterpiece. Upon inquiry, it 
will appear, that his vanity, in' this particular, was not 
without foundation. Although Elizabeth had succeeded in 
finally subjecting that country; yet, the more difficult task 
remained—to civilize the inhabitants, and reconcile them 
to industry and laws. James proceeded by a steady and 
well concerted plan; and, in less than ten years, did more 
towards the improvement of that kingdom, than all his pre¬ 
decessors had accomplished, in upwards of four centuries. 
By the old Irish custom, every crime, however enormous, 
was punished, not by death, but by a pecuniary fine. Mur¬ 
der itself was atoned for in this manner: and each man, ac¬ 
cording to his rank, had a different rate or value affixed to 
him; which, if any one was willing to pay, he might as¬ 
sassinate his enemy. This rate was called his eric. When 
sir William Fitzwilliams, a governor of Ireland, told Ma¬ 
guire, an Irish chieftain, that he intended to send a sheriff' 
into Fermanagh; which, a little before, had been made a 
county, and subjected to the English laws; 6 Your sheriff',’ 
said Maguire, i shall be welcome to me: but, let me know 
before hand, his eric , or the price of his head; that, if my 
people cut it off, I may levy the money upon the county.’ 
As for oppression, extortion, or other trespasses, so lit 
tie were they regarded, that no redress for such offences 
could ever be obtained. James abolished these Irish cus¬ 
toms, and substituted the laws of England ; and, having 
declared the natives to be free citizens, proceeded to gov¬ 
ern them by a regular administration. The whole province 
of Ulster having fallen to the crown, by the attainder of the 
M 




130 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


rebels, a company for establishing in it new colonies was 
formed in London: tenants were sent over from England 
and Scotland : the Irish were removed from their retreats, 
and settled in the open country: husbandry and the arts 
were taught them ; and, by these means, Ulster, from be- • 
ing the wildest and the most disorderly province of all Ire¬ 
land, soon became the most highly cultivated and the most 
civilized.” 

Although we do not deny Hume our general approba¬ 
tion, yet we cannot accord with his manner of treating the 
affairs of Ireland. In this instance, he is extremely super¬ 
ficial ; indeed, more so, than the extended plan of his valu¬ 
able work would lead us to expect. That the Irish, even 
at the period to which he alludes, were in some degree un¬ 
civilized, and that their laws were neither judiciously fram¬ 
ed, nor properly enforced, we readily admit. But, the op¬ 
pressions under which they laboured from their rapacious 
masters, had assisted in prolonging this miserable condi¬ 
tion ; and we confidently maintain, that they were not more 
remarkable for insubordination than the Scotch ; nor many 
degrees more uncivilized than the English. To Scotland 
Hume is certainly not partial; but still, he has paid more 
attention to her affairs than to those of Ireland ; and had he 
gone more minutely into the latter, this “ master piece” of 
James, would not appear so equitable. Historians of great 
research, attribute the colonization of Ulster to his desire 
of extending the protestant religion ; and assert, that seve¬ 
ral of the Irish chieftains had been attainted and deprived 
of their estates, without sufficient evidence. 

Those who feel an interest in the concerns of Ireland, 
will be gratified by the works of Davies, Leland, O’Hal- 
loran, Ledwich, Gordon, Plowden, and Lawless ; and by a 
late work—the “ Vindiciae Hibernicae” of Carey. 

James had, in common with other men, his failings and 
his follies. His puerile attachment to favourites was first 
conspicuous in the honours, and confidence, which he so 
lavishly gave to Robert Carr. Though Carr was made 
known to the king merely by accident, he was soon created 
viscount Rochester, and earl of Somerset; was loaded with 
riches, and had, for a while, the sole direction of national 
affairs. Unworthy, from the beginning, of these distinc¬ 
tions, this upstart minion plunged headlong into the deepest 
crimes; was disgraced, and dragged out a miserable life in 
obscurity and detestation. To Carr, succeeded George 
Villiers; a younger brother of a good English family; whose 









HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


131 


chief advantages were a handsome person, genteel air, and 
fashionable dress. First, he was made cupbearer to the 
king; then, successively, created viscount Villiers, earl, 
marquis, and duke of Buckingham, knight of the garter, 
master of the horse, chief justice in Eyre, warden of the 
cinque ports, master of the king’s bench office, steward of 
Westminster, constable of Windsor, and lord high admiral 
of England! Of every talent, requisite for a statesman, he 
was utterly devoid; and, to indulge his pride or his inso 
lence, he sacrificed the faith of treaties, the character of 
the nation, and the honour of his benefactor. 

Hitherto, the influence of parliament, in questions of 
great national importance, was undefined. Those invalu¬ 
able rights, which the people fondly supposed had been 
ascertained and secured by the great charter, were frittered 
away, by the insolence of the crown, the servile flattery of 
ministers, the ignorance and submission of the public guar 
dians. But a new era now burst forth. The minds of men 
became more enlightened; the prince was less capable of 
tyranny, though not less inclined to be a tyrant. 

In one of his speeches, he insisted, that, as it was blas¬ 
phemy for man to dispute what God might do, in the ful¬ 
ness of his omnipotence; so, was it sedition, for subjects to 
dispute what a king might do, in the fulness of his power. 
The commons, however, assumed a degree of vigour and 
boldness: they began to call public officers to account; and 
no situation was above the reach of their investigation. 
The office of chancellor was then filled by the celebrated 
Francis Bacon, viscount St. Albans; a man universally ad¬ 
mired for the greatness of his genius, and beloved for the 
humanity of his disposition. But, unfortunately, his want 
of economy having involved him in necessity, he had taken 
several bribes from the suitors in chancery; which caused 
his impeachment, and a sentence, that he should pay a fine 
of forty-thousand pounds, and be for ever incapable of 
holding any public employment. 

We have another instance of deviation from the path of 
rectitude, in sir Walter Raleigh. This great man had been 
confined in the Tower for thirteen years; during which 
time, he had increased his literary reputation, by writing a 
history of the world. Eager, after so long an imprisonment, 
to obtain his liberty, he spread a report of a gold mine, that 
in one of his excursions he had discovered in Guiana; to 
which country, he perhaps imagined that England had a 
claim, from his having set up a mark upon the coast. The 



132 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


king gave him liberty to go in search of this reported mine, 
but reserved the capital sentence, as a check upon his beha¬ 
viour. Raleigh, accordingly, fitted out a fleet; with which 
he set sail to South America. But the mine from which 
he endeavoured to draw his riches, was the Spanish town 
of St. 1 homas; which he seized, and afterwards set on fire. 

1618. *" or t ^^ s ’ * ie was > 011 return, executed upon his 
former sentence. The crown lawyers justified them¬ 
selves, by a maxim, that no man could be tried on a fresh 
indictment, whilst lying under a previous sentence of death. 
1 his is strict law; however, their conduct bears a strong 
tincture of barbarism and injustice. 

1625 t ^ s s P r i n g> the king was seized with a tertian 

ague; which terminated his life, in the fifty-ninth 
year of his age, and the twenty-third of his reign over Eng 
land. He was possessed of considerable virtues; but scarce 
ly any of these were pure, or free from the contagion of 
the neighbouring vices. Iiis generosity bordered on pro¬ 
fusion, his learning on pedantry, his pacific disposition on 
pusillanimity, his wisdom on cunning, his friendship on 
light fancy and boyish fondness. 

He left only one son, Charles; and one daughter, Eliza¬ 
beth, married to the Elector Palatine. 

It was in this reign, and through the desire and patron¬ 
age of James, that the last authorized English translation 
of the Bible, was begun and finished. 

But, notwithstanding this monarch’s attention to reli¬ 
gion, his mind was clouded with the childish superstition 
of his native country. In the first year of his reign in 
England, it was enacted, that all persons invoking any evil 
spirit, covenanting with, entertaining, employing, feeding, 
oi i ewarcling it, or taking up dead bodies from the grave ? 
to be used in any witchcraft, sorcery, charm, or enchant¬ 
ment; or killing or otherwise hurting any one by such in- 
f c i nal aits, should be guilty of felony without benefit of 
clergy, and suffer death.* This law ccyitinued in force till 
lately; to the terror of all ancient females in the kingdom; 
many of whom were thereby sacrificed, to the prejudice 
of their neighbours, or their own illusions. 

* 7^ he lerm “ benefit of clergy,” signifies, in the English law, a 
privilege anciently granted to all clergymen, by which thev were ex¬ 
empted from capital punishment, for a first offence. It was afterwards 
allowed to any person that could read; and is now, in many cases 
pleaded, by every criminal, as a matter of course, and obliges the jud^ 
to commute the infliction of death, for some milder punishment. ^ 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 133 

Throughout all Europe, and especially in England, a 
taste was now generally diffused for literature, and the lib¬ 
eral as well as mechanical arts; for commerce, and for colo¬ 
nial establishments. But the English seem not yet to have 
learned the art of dyeing and dressing woolen-cloth: it was 
mostly exported as it came from the loom, and was dyed 
and finished by the Dutch. Holland, at this time, traded 
to England with six-hundred ships; England to Holland, 
with only sixty. The most active promoter of the colonies 
was Richard Hakluyt, prebendary of Westminster; who, 
in order to excite his countrymen to naval enterprise, pub¬ 
lished his 'Valuable collection of voyages and discoveries 
made by Englishmen. King James divided Virginia into 
two districts: the southern portion still retained its name; 
but the northern received the appellation of New England! 
A charter was granted to Hakluyt, Gates, and Summers;* 
authorizing them to occupy, in the former, an extent of 
one-hundred miles along the coast, and extend to an equal 
distance into the interior. Accordingly, three vessels, under 
the command ol captain Newport, with one-hundred men 
set sail; and, on the 26th of April, 1607, entered the Bay 
of Chesapeake; contemplating, with delight, the happy 
discovery of that spacious inlet, i hen, keeping along the 
southern shore, they sailed up a river, which the natives 
called Powhatan; and to which they gave the name of 
James River. Having landed, they called their infant set¬ 
tlement James Town; which, though still only a poor 
place, can boast of being the most ancient English estab¬ 
lishment in America. Gates and Summers, about two 
years afterwards, sailed with five-hundred planters. In 
their passage, they were stranded on the Bermuda Islands; 
but, at length, they succeeded in reaching James Town, 
with all their adventurers. The first governor of the new 
colony was lord Delaware. 

We must not omit to mention captain Smith, as a most 
intrepid and distinguished character amongst these early 
settlers; nor the marriage of captain Rolfe, with the beau¬ 
tiful and amiable Pocahuntas, daughter of the great chief 
Powhatan; from which celebrated princess, some of the 
most opulent families in Virginia are proud to claim their 
descent. 

The most ancient permanent establishment in New Eng 
land, was made in the year 1620,in Massachusetts Bay; ana 
was named New Plymouth. Thence, arising from theolo 
gical disputes, were formed, Rhode Island and Connecti- 
M 2 





134 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


cut; one under the direction of a clergyman named Wil¬ 
liams ; at a place which he called Providence: the other, 
under that of Hooker, also a clergyman; the oldest settle¬ 
ment in which is Hartford. New Hampshire is indebted 
for its rise to the same cause: it made no advancement, 
until Exeter was founded by Mr. Wheelright; a divine 
who had been banished from Massachusetts. 

To enter into a minute criticism of the writers of this 
age, would exceed our plan. Their style was rude, and 
widely different from the present; but their distorted ex¬ 
pressions are attended with such vigour of mind, that we 
must admire the imagination which produced them. Ben 
Jonson, an eminent dramatic writer, possessed more learn 
ing than Shakespeare, but was far inferior to him in genius; 
and Beaumont, and his coadjutor, Fletcher, were also con¬ 
spicuous for their comic talents. Camden was the most 
correct historian of his age; Speed and Stow are distin¬ 
guished for their labours in the same walk; and Spelman, 
as well as sir Robert Cotton, has transmitted interesting 
researches for the antiquarian. As a lawyer, deeply learn¬ 
ed in his arduous profession, we must distinguish sir Ed¬ 
ward Coke; advanced to the office of lord chief justice. 
His most remarkable work is the Institutes of the Laws of 
England; part of which is a translation from the writings* 
of sir Thomas Littleton, one of the judges in the reign of 
Edward the fourth. Inigo Jones has left various monu¬ 
ments of skill in architecture. Mathematics engrossed the 
chief attention of Hariot, Gunter, and lord Napier. Gunter 
is the contriver of the valuable rule of proportion inscribed 
upon his Scale: in 1614 , that science was enriched by Na¬ 
pier’s invention of logarithms; and, in five years after¬ 
wards the circulation of the blood was discovered by Dr. 
Harvey. But, so slow is the progress of truth, in every 
science, when opposed by pre-existing opinions, that no 
physician in Europe, who had reached forty years of age, 
ever adopted that great discovery; and Harvey’s practice 
in London was extremely diminished, from the reproach 
vhich it drew upon him. 

The dignity of Baronet, the lowest degree of hereditary- 
honours, was founded by king James. This title, originally 
confined to gentlemen who held a clear annual income from 
lands of one-thousand pounds, was granted in consideration 

a certain pecuniary payment, ancl of each members rais¬ 
ing and maintaining thirty soldiers for the defence of the 
Irish province of Ulster. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


135 

Agriculture, though much improved, was still very im¬ 
perfect. England, in a great measure, depended upon 
foreign nations for her daily bread. Wheat was considered 
low at thirty-two shillings; barley, at sixteen shillings per 
quarter, of eight bushels : a turkey sold for three shillings 
and six pence; a goose two shillings; though the pay of a 
private soldier, enlisted from a much better rank than at 
present, was only eight pence a day; by which, we may 
form some estimate of the general remuneration of manual 
labour ; and conclude, that the working people were not so 
comfortably provided, as at the present time. By the king’s 
direction, mulberry-trees were planted, and silk-worms in¬ 
troduced; but, to the success of this project, the climate 
of England was unfavourable. That valuable article, Alum, 
indispensable in the dyeing of several colours, was first 
manufactured in England in the year 1608; having, before, 
been imported from the continent. 

Hudson, when searching for a north-west passage to the 
East Indies, entered the spacious bay which retains his 
name; and the English, in this reign, discovered and plant¬ 
ed the island of Barbadoes. 

CHARLES THE FIRST. 

1625—1649. 

Charles, the only surviving son of James, ascended the 
throne at the age of twenty-five years. In his father’s life 
time, he had been contracted to the princess Henrietta, of 
France, daughter of Henry the fourth; with whom the 
nuptials were celebrated shortly after he assumed the reins 
of government. 

When we view him in the domestic circle of his family, 
it is difficult to imagine a character more respectable: a 
kind husband—an indulgent father—a gentle master—a 
steadfast friend. His address and manner, though inclin¬ 
ing towards formality, corresponded to his rank; and gave 
grace to his natural gravity and reserve. The good sense 
which he evinced in conversation, promised success in 
every reasonable undertaking; and he displayed other en¬ 
dowments, which, in a private gentleman, would have been 
highly ornamental, and, in a monarch, might have been 
exerted for the benefit of society. In any other age, or na¬ 
tion, this prince would probably have enjoyed a happy 
reign. The exalted idea, however, of regal authority 


138 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


spect for the honour of his mistress. When, therefore, the 
duke was preparing for a new embassy to Paris, a message 
was sent him, from Louis, intimating that he must not 
think of such a journey. But, Buckingham, in a romantic 
passion, swore, that he would see the queen, in spite of all 
the power of France; and, from that moment, determined 
to have a war. Accordingly, under pretence of assisting the 
Hugonots, a sect of protestants in France, he made an at¬ 
tempt, with a large fleet and an army of seven-thousand 
men, upon the Isle of Rhe; but, instead of reaching Paris, 
he had much difficulty in even returning to England; as he 
was compelled to retreat, with the loss of two-thirds of his 
forces; totally discredited, both as an admiral and a general 

It may well be imagined, that the king and the duke 
now dreaded, above all things the calling of a parliament; 
but the urgent occasion for money drove them under the 
necessity of embracing that expedient. When the com¬ 
mons assembled, they displayed the same independent 
spirit as their predecessors; yet, although many of the 
members had been cast into prison, and had suffered by 
the measures of the court, they entered upon business with 
perfect temper and decorum. The king said to them in 
his speech, “ If you do not perform your duty, in contribut¬ 
ing to the necessities of the state, I must, in discharge of 
my conscience, use those other means , which God has put 
into my hands; in order to save that, which the folly of 
some men, may, otherwise, put in danger. Take not this 
for* threatening,” added he, u for I scorn to threaten any 
but my equals; but as an admonition, from him, who, by 
nature and duty, has most care of your preservation and 
prosperity. ” 

The business having commenced, sir Francis Seymour 
said : “ This is the great council of the kingdom; and here, 
with certainty, if not here, only, his majesty may see, as in 
a true glass, the state of the kingdom. We are called 
hither, by his writs, to give him faithful counsel; such as 
may stand with his honour: and this we must do without 
flattery. We are also sent hither by the people, to deliver 
their just grievances: and this we must do without fear. 
Let us not act as Cambyses’ judges; who, when their ap¬ 
probation was demanded by the prince, to some illegal 
measure, said, that, though there was a written law, the 
Persian kings must follow their own will and pleasure. 
This was base flattery; fitter for reproof than imitation: 
and as fear, so flattery, taketh away the judgment. For 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 139 

my part, I will shun both; and speak my mind, with as 

much duty as any man, to his majesty, without neo-lectiim 
the public.” b b 

Philips and Wentworth ably supported the eloquence of 
Seymour; and their sentiments were unanimously em- 
. braced. 

Though a supply of two-hundred-and-eighty-thou sand 
pounds was voted, the house deferred passing it into a 
law, until they had provided some barriers against the en¬ 
croachments of the crown. A bill, entitled the Petition of 
Rights, was then passed through the commons; which re¬ 
ceived the sanction of the lords, and, after much evasion 
and duplicity, obtained the royal assent. 

But, the manner in which the king assented to this bill, 
served rather to heighten the animosity, than relax the 
vigour, of the commons. To the complaints against ton¬ 
nage and poundage, (impositions said to be levied for the 
navy,) loud outcries were joined against the Catholics, and 
the Arminians; so that political and theological disputes 
went hand in hand. Information being given by the speaker, 
that he had a command from the king to adjourn the house, 
a short remonstrance was passed in the most tumultuary 
manner; declaring, that those who levied tonnage and 
poundage, and those who should voluntarily pay those du¬ 
ties, were, alike, enemies of the commonwealth. 

1628. To P re P are an expedition for a further attack on 
France, the duke of Buckingham went to Ports¬ 
mouth ; where his career was ended by an assassin. He 
was stabbed in the breast by one Felton ; who, having serv¬ 
ed under him as a lieutenant, was disappointed in promo¬ 
tion. Thus, do the unfortunate, by seeking for revenge, 
throw an indelible stain upon their memories, plunge theii 
families into misery, and violate the most awful command¬ 
ment of their Creator. 

Henceforward, Charles placed his principal friendship 
and confidence in his queen; from whom, Buckingham 
had, in some degree, alienated his affections. By her 
general good sense and spirit, as well as by her beauty, 
she justified the fondness of her husband ; though, being 
rather of a passionate temper, she involved him in hasty 
and imprudent measures. Her religion, likewise, to which 
she was strongly attached, must be regarded as- a great 
misfortune; as it increased the jealousy of the nation 
against the court. 

Charles, being disgusted with parliaments, resolved, du 


MO 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


til he should seethe nation in abetter humour, to do with¬ 
out their assistance ; and, to lessen his expenditure, made 
peace with France and Spain. 

Various expedients were used to augment his revenue. 
For a stipulated sum of money, individuals were allowed 
the exclusive advantages arising from certain branches of 
commerce and manufacture; and all persons having a 
yearly income of twenty pounds, were compelled, under the 
pretence of being qualified, in conformity with a long ex¬ 
ploded custom, to attend the sovereign in war, either to 
accept knighthood, or pay a heavy fine. 

The people were still further irritated by the conduct of 
Laud, archbishop of Canterbury; who studied to exalt the 
ecclesiastical power, and depress the civil: to revive the 
ancient ceremonies, and retard the progress of the puri¬ 
tans. The latter went off in great numbers to New Eng¬ 
land; and there sought for that civil and religious liberty, 
which they were denied at home. But their enemies were 
unwilling that they should any where be happy. Eight 
ships, lying in the Thames, ready to sail, were detained 
by the council; in which, were embarked, Hazlerig, Crom¬ 
well, and Hambden ; a measure of which the king had, af¬ 
terwards, great reason to repent. 

The situation of Scotland now demands our at¬ 
tention. There, too, the misguided Charles was 
involved in difficulties the most serious. With him, pre¬ 
judice had usurped the seat of reason; and misfortune ex¬ 
alted his lofty ideas of prerogative. The form of church 
government established in Scotland, was the presbyterian : 
could any thing, therefore, be imagined more absurd, or 
more impolitic, than an attempt to force, upon his’ northern 
subjects, the English liturgy, with the whole train of eccle¬ 
siastical dignities ? Yet this was really attempted ! A day 
had been appointed, by proclamation, for the first reading 
of the new service in Edinburgh: and, accordingly, the 
dean, arrayed in his surplice, began the service; the 
bishop himself, and many of the privy counsellors, being 
present. But, no sooner had the dean opened the book 1 , 
than a multitude of the meanest sort, most of them wo 
men, clapping their hands, cursing, and crying out, J1 
pope ! a pope! antichrist! stone him ! raised so great a tu - 
mult, that it was impossible to proceed with the service 
The bishop, when mounting the pulpit in order to appease 
the populace, had a 'stool thrown at him; and, after the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


141 


magistrates had expelled the rabble, stones were thrown 
in through the doors and windows. Theee rude indications 
displayed, however, the general sentiments of the nation: 
an assembly soon alter met at Glasgow; in which, the litur¬ 
gy, and the whole fabric of episcopacy, were abolished, and 
a Covenant entered into, renouncing the papal doctrines, 
and binding the subscribers to resist all religious innova¬ 
tions. But, being sensible of the opposition which would 
be made, and that their religious tenets must be protected 
by military force, they prepared themselves for a vigorous 
defence. The earl of Argyle was their chief leader: the 
earls of Rothes, Cassils, Montrose,Lothian; lords Lindsey, 
Loudon, Yester, and Ealmerino; distinguished themselves 
on the same side; and the marquis of Huntley adhered to 
the king. War soon commenced, a*nd continued with great 
disadvantage on the side of Charles. 

Heavy debts having been contracted, and the 
treasury exhausted, a parliament, after above eleven 
years’ intermission, was summoned, as the only resource. 
But the commons paid no regard to the distresses of the 
king. Grievances were again the order of the day; and, 
again, the friends of the king^ were outnumbered by his 
enemies; or, rather, the enemies of the nation were out¬ 
numbered by its friends. No supply was voted; and a dis¬ 
solution hastily ensued. 

An army, undisciplined, disheartened, mutinous, and 
badly paid, was very unfit to contend with the enthusiastic 
soldiers of the North; and retain in subjection the zealous 
and discontented inhabitants of England. Charles, in de¬ 
spair of being able to stem the torrent, resolved, again, to 
try the temper of the commons. In the month of Novem¬ 
ber, the great council of the nation assembled; distinguish¬ 
ed by the name of the long parliament; which immediately 
entered upon business, and in its very first proceeding gave 
an awful indication of what followed. 

Sir Thomas Wentworth, who had so eminently distin¬ 
guished himself in defence of liberty, had been, with man) 
other patriots, loaded with royal favours. These may be 
regarded as the first attempts of the crown to lessen the 
strength of opposition, by enlisting the ablest members on 
its side; a measure equally degrading to the monarch and 
the subject. Wentworth had been created earl of Strafford; 
appointed lord lieutenant of Ireland; latterly, he was made 
commander of the forces against the Scotch; and,for many 
ve^rs, was considered as chief counsellor of the king. But 
N 


142 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


in proportion as he gained the affection of the king he 
loow the confidence of the people; and, by a concurrence 
of accidents, laboured under the severe hatred of the Eng¬ 
lish, the Irish, and the Scotch. Aware of the danger of 
appearing amongst his enraged enemies, he would gladly 
have been excused from attending the present parliament: 
but the king promised him protection; and assured him, 
that “ not a hair of his head should be touched.” On his 
arrival, the attack commenced. Pym enumerated the na¬ 
tional grievances; from the several oppressions, inferred, 
that a plan had been lormed for subverting the ancient 
constitution of the kingdom, and mentioned Strafford as 
the most distinguished betrayer of his country. He was 
impeached for high treason and arrested. Westminster 
Hall was the place appointed, for his trial; where both 
houses sat: the commons as accusers, the lords as judges; 
and a close gallery was prepared for the king and queen: 
who attended during the whole of this important busi¬ 
ness. . hour months had been employed in framing the ac¬ 
cusation ; yet, so great was the genius and presence of 
mind displayed by this accomplished statesman, that he 
gained over his accusers a decided victory. Finding that 
upon these charges,it would be impossible to convict him! 
a bill of attainder was voted in parliament, and carried to 
the king for his assent. The populace flocked about the 
palace, and accompanied their demands for justice with 
the loudest clamours, and. the most open menaces; and 
every thing threatened an imminent convulsion. Charles 
abhorred the idea of dooming to destruction his friend, for 
whose safety he was pledged. But the queen, in tears, 
pressed him to gratify the people; and Strafford, himself, 
wrote a letter to the king, entreating him “ to put an end to 
us unfortunate, though innocent, life.” Charles, in an evil 
hour, consented to the bill; and by this act, consigned to 
the scaffold hts firmest friend, and fixed upon his own 
memory an indelible reproach. The authority of the crown 
was now annihilated: the government became purely de- 
mocratical; and the king merely an instrument of form 

1641. . th f fo ! lowin g autumn, Charles was employed 
in Scotland ; endeavouring, by concessions, to ap¬ 
pease the general discontent. When preparing to return 
he received intelligence of a formidable rebellion having 
broken out in Ireland. On every side, he was pursued by 
opposition and civil wars. The most effective portion -,1 
the aimy having been withdrawn from the protection of the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 143 

Irish government, the native race resolved to seize the fa¬ 
vourable opportunity of driving out the new settlers in 
Ulster: the flames of rebellion instantly spread over the 
whole country; so that, in a short time, Dublin, and a few 
other fortified towns, were all that remained in the hands 
of the English. 

In England, affairs rapidly approached a crisis. To the 
general amazement, the king, in order to arrest some ob¬ 
noxious members, entered the house of commons; having 
left an armed retinue at the door. The speaker withdrew 
IIom the chair; of which, the king took possession. Hav¬ 
ing made a short speech, he then demanded of that officer, 
whether any of those persons were in the house; but he 
ga\e him no satisfaction. The commons were thrown into 
the utmost disorder. W hen the king was departing, some 
members cried aloud, privilege! privilege! and the house 
then adjourned until the next day. 

Alarming cries resounded through the city: tumult suc¬ 
ceeded ; and the king, dreading the result, retired to 
Hampton Court; a royal palace, about fourteen miles from 
London. The parliament immediately assumed the com¬ 
mand of the army, and of all the principal fortresses and 
towns; issuing their orders under “ the authority of the 
king, signified by both houses of parliament.” Charles 
then removed, still further, from the capital; taking with 
him two of his sons, the prince of Wales, and the duke of 
York; and sending his queen to Holland: whence, by 
pawning the crown-jewels, and by the influence of her son- 
in-law, the prince of Orange, she was enabled to return 
with artillery and ammunition. 

1642. . With a degree of activity, neither expected by his 

* friends, nor apprehended by his enemies, Charles 
prepared himself for defence, and roused up his adherents 
to arms. Above forty peers, of the first rank, attended him 
at York; and his court soon bore the appearance of dignity 
and splendour, Jrom that city, he advanced southwards 
to Nottingham, and there erected his standard—the open 
signal of discord and civil war. 

From Nottingham, the king marched to Shrewsbury; 
where, on mustering his army, he found that it amounted to 
ten-thousand men. The earl of Lindsey was appointed 
general: prince Rupert, his nephew, son of the Palatine, 
commanded the light cavalry; sir Arthur Aston, the dra¬ 
goons : sir Jacob Astley, the foot: sir John Heydon, the 
artillery: lord Bernard Stuart was at the head of a troop of 


144 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


guards; and, besides these officers, he had, in the course 
of the war, the assistance of the earl of Montrose, the duke 
of Hamilton, and many more persons of distinction. 

The parliamentary army was commanded by lord Fair 
fax, sir William Waller, the earl of Essex, and earl of Man¬ 
chester. The earls of Northumberland and Warwick, were 
intrusted with the navy. But the men, on whom the events 
of the war finally depended, were, sir Thomas Fairfax, son 
of lord Fairfax, and Oliver Cromwell; particularly the lat¬ 
ter. This extraordinary man, already conspicuous in par¬ 
liament, for his opposition to the Roman Catholics, was 
born at Huntingdon, of a respectable family, who inherited 
an independent landed estate. His mother, whose name 
was Stuart, was related, it is supposed, to the family on 
the throne. He had been sent to college; but his genius 
was little suited to the elegant pursuits of learning. In his 
person, he was ungraceful: in his dress, slovenly : in his 
elocution, tedious and obscure. 

The first military affair took place near Worcester; 
where colonel Sandys, who commanded a body of cavalry 
under Essex, was defeated by prince Rupert. To this, suc¬ 
ceeded the well contested battle of Edgehill; in which, the 
king himself bore a conspicuous part. He was there op¬ 
posed by the earl of Essex; and both sides continued the 
action with the utmost bravery, until night ended the fury 
of the combat. 

Afterwards, there occurred, the battles of Stratton, 
Roundway-down, Chalgravefield, (where the great Hamb 
den was killed) Atherton-Moor, and Copredy-Bridge; in 
which, the king was successful: those of Landsdown ana 
Newbury, undecided; also, the battles of Wakefield, Gains¬ 
borough, Horncastle, Selby, Cherington, Marston-Moor, 
and a second battle at Newbury; those of Naseby, Torring- 
ton, Sherburne in Yorkshire, Stowe, and Preston in Lan¬ 
cashire; in favour of the parliament. At Naseby, the roy¬ 
alists were so severely beaten, as to render their affairs 
irretrievable. In that engagement, the main body of the 
royal army was ably commanded by the king himself, sec¬ 
onded by prince Rupert. Fairfax led on the forces of the 
parliament; assisted by Skippon, Cromwell, and his son- 
in-law, I re ton. 

There were few places, throughout the entire kingdom, 
which did not feel the effects of these dreadful commotions. 
Bristol, Gloucester, and Hull; Nantwich, Newark, and 
Lincoln, York, Newcastle, Lyme, and Weymouth; ex- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


145 


perienced the hardships of a siege: also, Pomfret, Carlisle, 
and Chester; Taunton in Somersetshire; Leicester, and 
Bath; Sherborn, Winchester, and Dartmouth; Exeter 
Hereford, and Colchester. 

Scarcely had the parliament acquired the ascendency, 
when their meetings became scenes of faction and confu¬ 
sion. A new party arose upon the ruins of the old. These 
were called Independents; who aimed not only at the total 
abolition of monarchy and aristocracy, but also of eccle¬ 
siastical distinctions, and every other rank in society. Their 
principal leaders were sir Harry Vane and Oliver Crom¬ 
well. Essex, Northumberland, Warwick, and sir William 
Waller, remained firm to the more rational opinions of the 
presbyterians. The command of the army devolved upon 
sir Thomas Fairfax, a moderate independent; and under 
him, in appearance, upon Cromwell; by whom, the former 
was, for a long time, entirely governed. 

In the midst of this confusion, Archbishop Laud was 
executed. 

1646 Nearly four years had elapsed since the king 
erected his standard at Nottingham ; during which 
time, he had encountered every difficulty with the greatest- 
fortitude. When driven from the field, Oxford may be 
considered as his principal retreat. Here, he had, for a 
short time, a distinct parliament; and made many fruitless 
endeavours towards a reconciliation. Henceforth, from the 
independents, he had nothing to expect but death. From 
the Scotch army, his countrymen, he had, he thought, some 
claim to protection. Accompanied only by two gentlemen, 
he passed, therefore, to their camp, at Newark. But they 
instantly placed a guard upon him, and soon afterwards 
delivered him to the English parliament. 

Most violent contentions had, for some time past, existed 
between the parliament and the army. But the latter now 
struck a blow which maybe deemed decisive. Charles had 
been conveyed toHoldenby in Northamptonshire; at which 
place, by the directions of Cromwell, cornet Joyce, at the 
head of five-hundred horse, appeared ; and going up to the 
king, told him, that he must immediately accompany him. 
“ Whither?” said the king. “ To the army,” replied Joyce. 
“ By what warrant?” demanded Charles.—Joyce pointed to 
his soldiers—tall, handsome, and well accoutred. “Your 
warrant,” said Charles, smiling, “ is written in fair charac 
ters —legible without spelling.” He was then conveyed te 
Triplo-Heath, near Cambridge. 

N 2 


46 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Cromwell now proceeded to London, in order to subject 
the parliament. In this, he completely succeeded. The 
government became, in reality, a military tribunal; parlia¬ 
ment, an empty name; used rather to countenance the tur¬ 
bulence of the army, than to curb its licentiousness, or ad¬ 
minister justice to the people. Tedious negotiations en¬ 
sued. The king granted more than was desired by the 
friends of the nation, and nearly all that was demanded by 
his own enemies. But, though he agreed to surrender al¬ 
most every exercise of regal office, and almost entirely to 
suppress the established religion throughout the empire, 
and even within the precincts of his own house, he could 
not obtain a restoration; either because, from his equivo¬ 
cal manner of negotiating, it was thought imprudent to 
confide in him, or that it was not the wish of the ruling 
faction, that an accommodation should be effected on any 
terms. 

j In the house of commons, a vote was made, de 

daring it treason in a king to levy war against his 
parliament; and appointing a High Court of Justice, to 
try Charles for that offence. This measure was rejected 
by the lords; but the commons disregarded their dissent, 
and unanimously passed an order for his trial. 

The court sat in Westminster Hall; and consisted of 
one-hundred-and-thirty-three members, appointed by the 
commons ; of which number, there never met above seven¬ 
ty. Amongst these, were Cromwell, Ireton, and many 
other officers of the army. Bradshaw, a lawyer, was pre¬ 
sident : Coke, (not sir Edward,) was solicitor for the peo¬ 
ple of England. Having examined some witnesses, who 
proved that the king had appeared in arms against the 
forces of the parliament, they pronounced a sentence of 
death. Three days were allowed him, between his sentence 
and execution: which interval, he passed with great tran¬ 
quillity ; chiefly in reading and devotion. All his family 
who then remained in England were allowed to see him. 
These were, the princess Elizabeth, and a little child, the 
duke of Gloucester: the rest having escaped. 

The aw'ful scaffold, upon which this unhappy monarch 
was to expiate the errors of his government, w r as erected 
in the street before White Hall. Here, having attributed 
his misfortunes, and his death, to the unjust sentence which 
he had allowed to take effect upon the earl of Strafford; 
and freely forgiven his enemies, even the chief instruments 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 147 

of his death; at one blow, his head was severed from his 
body. 

Charles was executed in the forty-ninth year of his age, 
and the twenty-fourth of his reign. His features were 
regular and handsome ; though of rather a melancholy as 
pect: he was of a middle stature,; strong and well pro¬ 
portioned. He left six children: three males—Charles, 
prince of Wales, James, duke of York, Henry, duke of 
Gloucester : and three females—Mary, princess of Orange. 
Elizabeth, and Henrietta. 

The commons ordered a new Great Seal to be engraved; 
with this legend: “ On the first year of freedom, by God’s 
blessing restored, 1648 .” The king’s statue in the exchange 
was thrown down ; and, on the pedestal, was inscribed : 
“ Exit Tyr annus, Regum Ultimus .” [ The tyrant is gone; 
the last of the kings.] 

If we take an impartial review of this memorable period, 
we shall find much to admire, and much the subject of re¬ 
gret and condemnation. We must admire the sincere 
patriotism of the lamented Hambden, we must regret the 
early obstinacy of the king, and condemn the deep dis¬ 
simulation of the detested Cromwell. 

- Pym and the earl of Essex died before the total over¬ 
throw of their party: the former, in the beginning of the 
war; the latter, about two years previous to the death of 
Charles. 

Gataker, and Usher, archbishop of Armagh, who flour¬ 
ished at this period, were highly eminent, not only as di¬ 
vines, but for their general acquirements in literature. St 
Christopher’s, Nevis, Antigua, and Maryland, were settled 
in this reign. The latter colony was planted, under royal 
authority, by lord Baltimore. 

THE COMMONWEALTH. 

1649 — 1660 . 

To give a clear delineation of the government, or the 
religion, at this time existing in England, is a task to which 
the pen of the historian is unequal. That the government, 
shortly after the death of Charles, and the consequent ex¬ 
tinction of the civil wars, assumed a degree of vigour, un¬ 
known before in England, or, indeed, in any other country 
?>f the world, the history of that period sufficiently evinces. 
But, by what title this ruling power should be denomi- 


148 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


nated, is a question, to which we are unable to reply. It 
was not a democracy; because, though the house of lords 
was abolished, the semblance of a parliament, which yel 
remained, was not the choice of the people. The members 
were added, or expelled, at the caprice of its own majority; 
and, instead of a republic, the best calculated for the hap¬ 
piness of a virtuous nation, England now beheld herself 
under the absolute control of a despot; a many-headed des¬ 
pot : having exchanged the tyranny of one, for the more 
odious tyranny of a number. 

In matters of religion, almost every one had adopted a 
system, which, not being derived from any scriptural au¬ 
thority, was peculiar to himself—founded, rather on ima¬ 
ginary inspiration, than on a clear principle of human 
reason—promulgated by vulgar declamation, and a bold 
hypocritical cant. 

It was usual for the pretended saints of this time, to 
change their names, from Henry, Edward, Anthony, or 
William, which they regarded as heathenish, into others 
more sanctified and godly: even the New Testament names, 
such as James, Andrew, John, or Peter, were not held in 
so much regard, as those borrowed from the Old Testa¬ 
ment ; and sometimes a whole sentence was adopted as a 
name.* 

The presbyterians, by whose credit the arms of the par¬ 
liament had first been supported, being overthrown by the 
treachery ol the zealots, would gladly again have embrac¬ 
ed a well regulated monarchy, in place of the present 
mockery of freedom. But the great influence of Crom¬ 
well ; his dark, designing, and impetuous manner, aided 
by a well disciplined army of fifty-thousand men devoted to 
his will; and his uncommon talents as a general; main¬ 
tained, throughout England, a profound tranquillity. 

No new writs of election were issued, except to places 


* The following are the names of a jury, said to have been on a 
trial in the county ot Suffolk. 


Accepted Trevor, 
Redeemed Compton, 

Faint not Hewit, 

Make peace Heaton, 

God reward Smart, 
Standfast on high Stringer, 
Earth Adams, 

Called Lower, 

Kill sin Pimple 


Return Spelman, 

Be faithful Joiner 
Fly debate Roberts, 

Fight the good fight of faith White, 
More fruit Fowler, ^ 

Hope for Bending, 

Graceful Harding, 

Weep not Billing, 

Meek Brewer. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


149 


where the commons hoped that their own friends would be 
chosen; and, though the Executive Council contained 
many highly respectable characters, we may safely affirm, 
that, as Cromwell himself was a member of that body, 
every important measure must have required his previous 
consent*. 

In Ireland, the ascendency had been contended for by no 
fewer than three parties—the king, the parliament, and the 
natives. Butler, marquis of Ormond, lord lieutenant at 
the time of the king’s overthrow, had surrendered, by di¬ 
rection of Charles, all the garrisons in that country, to the 
forces of the parliament, in preference to the council of Kil¬ 
kenny, by whom the Irish were directed. But, the earls 
of Clanricarde and Incliiquin, dreading the ruin of their 
country, as well from its own commotions, as from the do¬ 
minion of the parliament, succeeded in uniting a powerful 
body of the Irish and the Royalists, and successfully at 
backed the towns of Dundalk and Drogheda. 

In this situation of affairs, Cromwell, having got 
.649. himsgif appointed lieutenant of Ireland, proceeded 
thither with a numerous and well appointed army. He 
T anded at Dublin; and thence, hastened to Drogheda; then 
well fortified and garrisoned with three-thousand men, un¬ 
der sir Arthur Aston. . Cromwell was not fond of a long 
protracted siege. Here, as in all other places, the busi¬ 
ness was soon performed. Having effected a breach, he 
ordered a general assault; himself and Ireton leading the 
attack. The town was taken, sword-in-hand; and one, only, 
of all the garrison, escaped the barbarous slaughter. 

Wexford, and its defenders, experienced a similar fate; 
and, in a few months, he made himself master of the entire 
kingdom. Even to this day, his name is still fresh amongst 
the Irish. There is not a ruined castle, or delapidated 
mansion, throughout the country, with which, the very chil¬ 
dren are not taught to associate the name of Cromwell. 

The whole authority in Scotland had fallen into the hands 
of Argyle, and the rigid covenanters ; a party, who, though 
warmly opposed to the royal interest, were still more strong 
ly averse to the independents. They therefore proclaimed 
the prince of Wales, under the title of Charles the second: 
but on condition of “ his good behaviour, and strict ob¬ 
servance of the covenant.” 

Charles, poor and neglected; living sometimes in Hol¬ 
land, sometimes in France, and occasionally in Jersev; was 
glad to obtain a footing in the country, in any manner; ao 


150 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


cepted the crown upon such terms as were prescribed; 
and, alter his arrival in Scotland, joined in the most de¬ 
grading declarations against the conduct of his father, and 
the religion of his mother ! 

Fairfax having resigned his commission, Cromwell was 
declared, what he really was before, captain general of all 
the forces in England ; and entered Scotland with an army 
of sixteen-thousand men. The command of his northern 
enemies was given to Leslie; an officer cautious and ex¬ 
perienced. But the Scottish clergy, deceived by a frenzied 
imagination, forced their general to an untimely battle, at 
Dunbar; where Leslie was overthrown, with the loss of 
nearly his whole army. 

Now reduced to despair, Charles embraced a resolution 
worthy of success. Accompanied by Hamilton and Leslie, 
with fourteen-thousand troops, he entered England; and 
advanced as far as Worcester. Cromwell, leaving general 
Monk to complete the subjection of Scotland, pursued the 
enemy, and almost totally destroyed them. Charles took 
refuge at Boscobel, a solitary house on the borders of Staf¬ 
fordshire, inhabited by one Penderell, a farmer, and his 
four brothers; to whom he discovered himself: and, though 
death awaited the knowledge of their generosity, or re 
ward the betraying of their trust, those noble-minded peas¬ 
ants were faithful to their guest. Here, Charles assumed 
a rustic dress : and, for better concealment, mounted upon 
an oak; where he remained for twenty-four hours. When 
hidden within the branches, he saw several soldiers pass 
in search of him. This tree was afterwards named the 
u Royal Oak;” a rude painting of which, with the prince’s 
head seen amongst the leaves, is still used throughout the 
British dominions, as an external appendage to an inn. 

After many adventures, highly interesting and romantic, 
he arrived safely at Fescamp, in Normandy. 

All the settlements in America, except New England, 
having adhered to the royal party, a few ships were des¬ 
patched for their reduction; and the Bermudas, Virginia, 
Antigua, and Barbadoes, were obliged to surrender. 

1652 . Py the universal pacification of the British do- 
* minions, the parliament had leisure to look abroad 
tor employment; and the Dutch were the first that felt the 
weight of their successful arms. A feeling of hostility 
had, for some time, mutually existed; but, what eventually 
produced a war, was the famous Act of Navigation. This 
prohibited every state from carrying into England any com- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 151 

modity which was not the growth or manufacture of the 
country to which the vessels employed in its transporta¬ 
tion respectively belonged. In the English navy, Blake, 
one of the greatest admirals of his day; also Bourne, Penn, 
Deane, Monk, and Ayscue; sustained the honour of the 
British flag. On the side of the Dutch, were, the cele¬ 
brated Tromp and De Ruytcr; with De Witte and Van 
Galen. Though, however, the states defended themselves 
with admirable bravery, they were unable to withstand the 
valour of the English, aided by the superior size of their 
ships of war. 

1653 P ar ^ ament j grown jealous of the land-forces, 

‘ had been, for some time, ardently working to de¬ 
press the army, and exak, by every means, the power and 
character of the navy. But, Cromwell resolved to coun¬ 
teract them. He entered the house, accompanied by a 
strong guard, and loaded them with the vilest reproaches. 
u For shame,” cried he; “ get you gone: give place to hon- 
ester men; to those who will more faithfully discharge 
their trust. You are no longer a parliament: the Lord has 
done with you.” Then, having ordered his soldiers to clear 
the house, he himself went out the last, and, putting the key 
into his pocket, departed to his lodgings at Whitehall. 

The whole power, civil and military, of three extensive 
kingdoms, was now in the hands of Cromwell. In propor¬ 
tion to the increase of his authority, the talents of this won 
derful man seemed always to expand; and, every day, he 
displayed new abilities, which had lain concealed until the 
very event which had called them into action. The name 
of parliament, however, seemed a necessary cover to his 
ambition; and, at that time, a necessary instrument of na¬ 
tional subjection. He summoned, therefore, a legislature 
of his own appointment; the majority of which were the 
very dregs of the fanatics. This body, from the mortified 
appearance of its members, particularly of one of its cant 
ing hypocrites, received the name of Barebone’s parlia¬ 
ment. It was by them seriously proposed, to abolish the 
Common Law, as a badge of the Norman Conquest: to 
dispense with the clerical function, as being, in their opin¬ 
ion, a remnant of popery: to eradicate learning, as heathen 
ish and unnecessary; to burn the records in the Tower; 
to efface the memory of things past, and to begin the whole 
system of life anew. 

But, at length, even Cromwell himself growing ashamed 


152 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 

of his legislators, he sent to the house a party of soldiers; 
who dispersed them. 

Through the influence of general Lambert, Cromwell 
was, by the voice of a few military officers, declared chiei 
magistrate; under the title of protector, with the honoura¬ 
ble addition of highness ; subject, in some matters, to the 
control of a council of twenty-one. After this, a new par¬ 
liament was summoned; chosen according to the ancient 
constitution, but, ultimately, selected, agreeably to the 

protector’s will. . 

England had never been so formidable as during 

1655 * Cromwell’s usurpation. Having compelled the 
Dutch to sue for peace, the Spaniards next felt the vigour 
of her arms. In this war, Blake had an extensive field, in 
which t^ display his valour and abilities; and eveiv wheie 
supported the national renown. Penn and Venables being 
sent to the West Indies, annexed to the British empire the 
island of Jamaica; one of the most valuable colonies that 
England ever possessed; if, indeed, the colonial system is 
not rather injurious, than beneficial, to the parent country 

At length, the crown was tendered to the pro 
1658 ‘ tector. Many, even of the royalists, through a de¬ 
sire of settling the nation, joined, on this occasion, in the 
address. But the military became alarmed; and Cromwell 
was constrained to refuse what he would have willingly ac¬ 
cepted. Great discontents soon prevailed throughout the 
kingdom. Lord Fairfax and sir William W aller, united 
with the royalists in a conspiracy: the army were infected 
with the general feeling; and every thing indicated a sud¬ 
den and tremendous eruption. The anxious mind of Crom¬ 
well began to shake the firmness of his constitution: a 
slow fever was produced; and, to that, succeeded a tertian 
ague; which carried him off in the fifty-ninth year ol his 
age, and the fifth of his protectorship. 

His eldest son, Richard, was appointed to succeed him. 
Henry, the brother of Richard, being governor of Ireland, 
ensured him the obedience of that kingdom; and Monk 
supported his authority in Scotland. 

But the new protector was ill-suited to uphold the crazy 
grandeur of his father. Peaceable, amiable, unambitious, 
he was calculated to live happily in the social enjoyments 
of his family, amidst the delightful satisfaction ol a coun¬ 
try retirement; to which he had long been accustomed. 
He was soon deposed; and willingly resigned the sceptre 


163 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

for the plough. Having, therefore, returned to his estate, 
he lived to an extreme old age; contented and undisturbed. 

166Q Anarchy now held her dreadful reign. But, for¬ 
tunately for the empire, Providence had prepared 
a welcome agent for its relief. General Monk, with most 
admirable address, appeared in London, with his army: a 
free parliament was chosen; and the temper of the new 
members, wearied by commotions, clearly evinced their 
wishes for the ancient constitution. 

Every thing being arranged, the general directed An- 
neslv, president of the council, to inform the commons, 
that sir John Granville, had been sent over by Charles; 
and was then at the door, with a letter to the House. 
Granville was called in: the letter was eagerly read; with¬ 
out a moment’s delay, a committee was appointed to pre¬ 
pare an answer; the lords hastened to reinstate themselves 
in their accustomed authority; and Charles, with great 
solemnity, was proclaimed king. Thus, ended, after eleven 
years’ struggle, the Commonwealth of England. How dif¬ 
ferent has been the fate of the American republic ; and yet 
how similar were their patriots. But the latter owes the 
stability of its admirable constitution, to the happy ar 
rangement of its territorial members,—sufficiently united 
to resist the severity of war: sufficiently detached, to de¬ 
feat any rash experiments in peace. 

The fixed annual revenue, at this period, was about two- 
millions; but, by forfeitures and other means, the national 
income amounted to nearly two-millions-and-a-half. Inter¬ 
est of money was now reduced to six per cent. 

Tea, coffee, and chocolate, were lately introduced into 
England; also, asparagus, cauliflower, and a variety of 
other garden vegetables. 

From rather an inauspicious beginning, that orderly and 
respectable religious society, called Quakers, had their rise, 
during the commonwealth; of which sect, George Fox, of 
Drayton in Lancashire, was the founder. 

The poets of this age, were, Milton, Waller, Southern, 
Cowley, and Denham. Milton, the great author of Para 
dise Lost, and the successful rival of the Grecian Homer, 
was a zealous advocate of liberty. He was employed by 
Oliver Cromwell, as Latin secretary to the council. Ed 
mund Waller, nephew of the patriot Hambden, is esteem¬ 
ed the earliest refiner of English verse ; and it is to him we 
are indebted for the present form of our heroic rhyme, in 
couplets. The measure generally used in the days of Eliza- 
O 



154 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

beth, James, and Charles the first, was the stanza of eight 
lines, such as Spenser employs, borrowed from the Italian ; 
a measure very constrained and artificial. He was also 
much admired for the lorce and beauty ol his parliamen¬ 
tary eloquence. But, in the hour of danger, his timidity 
allowed him to betray his party and his friends. Cowley, 
though, in his life time, more praised than even Milton, is 
now remarkable only for the display of a despicable taste; 
which, indeed, then too generally prevailed. Denham, in 
his Cooper’s Hill, has given to English rhyme, a loftiness 
and vigour, which it had never before attained. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

RESTORATION. 

CHARLES THE SECOND. 

« 

* 1660—1685. 

CHARLES the first had roused the indignation of the 
people, by the stubbornness with which he contended for 
unlimited prerogative. His successor deserved their ha¬ 
tred, for the exercise of qualities, more reproachable to his 
character as an individual, and more injurious to the na¬ 
tion; because more perfidious. The father offended through 
regard to principle: the son, through the odious failing of 
pi vate gratification. Charles, by his degrading compli¬ 
ance with the Scotch, had already given a specimen of his 
meanness; and his conduct throughout his reign too well 
accorded with that early departure from the true firmness 
of a man. 

Now, in his thirtieth year, he united to the graces of his 
person, a lively wit and sound understanding; but, being 
(if a careless disposition, he conferred his favours indis¬ 
criminately ; without regard to the services of his friends, 
or the injuries of his enemies Monk, however, was not 
forgotten; having been created duke of Albemarle; an 
honour, to which, from his previous conduct, he was emi¬ 
nently entitled. Sir Edward Hyde, now earl of Clarendon, 
was appointed chancellor and prime minister; and the 
marquis of Ormond, adi anced to the dignity of duke, was 
made steward of the household. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


155 


All judicial proceedings, transacted in the name of the 
Commonwealth, being ratified by the new government, the 
trials commenced of those who were active in the late 
revolution. Charles, before his arrival, had agreed to con¬ 
fine his prosecutions to those whom the parliament should 
select; and, accordingly, Harrison, Scot, Carew, Jones, and 
Scrope, who sat as judges on the late king, Coke, the soli¬ 
citor, and a few others, were executed. Their sufferings 
did not interrupt the festivities of the palace. Licentious 
gayety and joy had banished every sentiment of decency or 
humanity. Indeed, the manners of the court were soon 
diffused throughout the kingdom;-so that it is difficult to 
judge, whether the covered vices of the former hypocrisy 
or the open violations of decorum which succeeded, were 
the most injurious. 

In Scotland, the marquis of Argyle was chosen as a vic¬ 
tim; and, though no further criminal than many thousands 
who, also, had participated in the civil wars, he was con 
demned to die. At his trial, Albemarle produced the pri 
vate letters of the marquis ; a treacherous proceeding, 
which has excited the indignation of every honourable mind. 

The settlement of Ireland was a work of considerable 
difficulty. Nearly all the valuable lands in that country 
had been given to those who lent money to the parliament, 
as a means of suppressing the rebellion; or to the soldiers, 
in payment of arrears. But, to prevent confusion and 
bloodshed, all parties seemed willing to make abatements 
from their claims; and the new holders agreed to relinquish 
a fourth of their possessions. 

A new parliament was now assembled. The 
* majority consisted of high-churchmen and royalists. 
Ancient establishments were restored, and efficient meas¬ 
ures taken to prevent the smallest degree of toleration, to 
all who refused conformance with the liturgy of the court. 
Charles would willingly have dispensed with this severity ; 
not because he cherished the generous principles of indul 
gence, but, that if he harboured within his breast any feel¬ 
ings of religion, they inclined towards the Roman Catholic; 
which, by the late regulation, was treated with as little re¬ 
spect as the presbyterian, or the puritan. On this occasion, 
upwards of two-thousand clergymen sacrificed their tem¬ 
poral interest to the dictates of an approving conscience 

In the ensuing year, the king concluded a bargain, by 
which he received, in marriage, Catherine of Portugal; 
with a fortune of five-hundred-thousand pounds, and two 


156 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


fortresses—Tangier and Bombay. The money produced 
a seasonable relief to his private necessities; and the for¬ 
tresses, a certain expenditure to his affectionate subjects. 
The festivity of the espousals was further enlivened by 
the execution of three regicides; Berkstead, Gobbet, and 
Okey: who had eluded the former vigilance of parliament. 
Vane, who had been passed over, fell a sacrifice to the 
opinions of the present parliament; and, contrary to a 
positive law, suffered the punishment of death. 

The close union with Holland, which, with sma.ll 
' interruption, had subsisted nearly seventy years, 
was again broken, in subservience to the views of com¬ 
merce. The Dutch, by industry and frugality, being ena¬ 
bled to undersell the English merchants in every market, 
the government now endeavoured to usurp this advantage, 
by the unjust influence of naval superiority. The duke of 
York (himself a member of a commercial company, an 
enemy to the religion of the Dutch, and an amateur of ma¬ 
rine enterprises) was an active stimulator of this iniquitous 
attack. Sir Robert Holmes was secretly despatched to the 
coast of Africa; where, he seized their shipping and their 
settlements: thence, he steered for America, and took 
possession of Nova Belgia, since called New Jersey and 
New York. 

The affairs of the Dutch were conducted by the virtuous 
and celebrated John De Witt; who lost not a moment in 
retaliation. The British Channel became the scene of fre¬ 
quent and well contested engagements; in which, neither 
party could boast of much superiority. The English fleet 
was principally commanded by the duke of York, prince 
Rupert, the earl of Sandwich, Albemarle, Allen, Berkely, 
and Sprague: the Dutch, by De Ruyter, young Tromp, 
son of the famous Tromp, killed in the former war, aided 
by many others of celebrity. The French king, Louis the 
fourteenth, prepared a fleet, and declared in favour of the 
States. In the Channel, an engagement ensued; in which 
the English, after a contest of four days, gained over the 
combined fleet a decided victory. 

A dreadful plague which occurred in London, 
and, in one year, swept off a hundred-thousand in* 
habitants, was now succeeded by another signal calamity. 
A fire commenced in a baker’s shop in that city, and con 
sumed four-hundred streets; comprising thirteen-thousand 
houses. It has, however, proved beneficial. The old wood¬ 
en buildings have been replaced by houses of brick or stone, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


157 


more regularly arranged. But there remains one trace of 
that visitation, which is much to be regretted. The Monu¬ 
ment, then erected, bears an inscription, falsely imputing 
the destruction to the Catholics.* 

Charles, having received a grant from parliament, of 
nearly two-millions, embraced the first opportunity of end¬ 
ing hostilities. He had a prospect of small benefit from 
the war, but an urgent occasion for the supply. A peace 
was concluded at Breda; by which, all that England gain¬ 
ed was Nova Belgia, in return for the blood of her citi¬ 
zens and the honour of the crown. 

As it v/as necessary that some minister should be sacri¬ 
ficed, to appease the people and the parliament, the earl of 
Clarendon was chosen for the victim. This eminent char¬ 
acter laboured under the combined hatred of every party. 
By impartiality, he had excited the enmity of the religious 
sects; always jealous of each other: by opposing his licen¬ 
tiousness, he had caused the displeasure of the king. He 
was, accordingly, banished from the country, and retired 
into France; where he composed his much admired histo¬ 
ry of the civil wars. 

It was now Louis’s turn to attack his defenceless 
neighbours. As he had already overrun the Span¬ 
ish Netherlands, and it was evident that the States were 
the next object of his ambition, Charles deemed it expe¬ 
dient to restrain his advances, and formed a defensive alii 
ance with the Dutch. To this, succeeded a change in the 
administration. All the virtuous ministers were excluded; 
and the national affairs intrusted to five persons—Clifford 
Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale; known 
by the appellation of the Cabal; a title formed by the initial 
letters of their names. Of these infamous ministers, lord 
Ashley, afterwards created earl of Shaftesbury, and the duke 
of Buckingham, were the most corrupt. Over this dis¬ 
honourable cabal, the gold of Louis easily prevailed. Even 
Charles himself became a willing participator in the bribes 
of France. By means of the dutchess of Orleans, who was 
Charles’s sister, and the caresses,of a handsome mistress, 
which she brought him, he relinguished every principle of 
honour; and made an arrangement for the destruction of 

* This imputation is repelled by Pope, in the following couplet: 

“ Where London’s column, pointing to the skies, 

Like a tall bully, lifts its head, and lies * 

O 2 


158 


HISTORY O* IflNGLAJND. 


Holland, and the overthrow of the national religion of Eng¬ 
land. 

The duke of York at this time openly declared 
16 ' 1 ’ himself a Roman Catholic; which acknowledgment, 
as he was heir apparent to the crown, gave considerable 
alarm.—Sir William Temple, the virtuous ambassador to 
the States of Holland, is, soon afterwards, recalled: every 
insult is offered to the Dutch : a piratical attempt is made 
to intercept their Smyrna fleet; and, without any ground 
for hostilities, they are involved in war. Louis now pours 
down his forces like a torrent, and enters their strong towns 
in rapid succession. But the States, having appointed the 
young prince of Orange to command their armies, he, as¬ 
sisted by the Imperialists, drives the haughty Louis, with 
precipitation, from all his conquests—A change in the Eng¬ 
lish ministry soon followed. Shaftesbury was dismissed, 
and sir Heneage Finch appointed chancellor, in his place 
To this, succeeded a separate peace with Holland; and an 
adjournment of the parliament. 

When the legislature was again assembled, the commons 
in appropriating the supplies, evinced an open distrust of 
the king ; and displayed the utmost jealousy of the duke of 
York, as well as of all who professed a similar religion 
This body was now divided into the court and the country 
party. Into the former, some were enlisted by offices and 
bribes; but many acted entirely from principle. To the 
country party, several, likewise, were attached by private 
views, or by faction; but numbers had no other object than 
the public good. 

In the midst of those violent contentions, which again 
threatened the nation with civil wars, the cry of a plot re¬ 
sounded in the city; and soon spread its baneful influence 
throughout the kingdom. The detail, or even the mention 
of an occurrence, at once so puerile and absurd, though 
producing effects so sanguinary and disgraceful, we should 
willingly omit; but, that the recital may be, hereafter,use¬ 
ful, in guarding against blind credulity and intolerance.—■ 
1678 Whilst t -^ ie king was walking in the Park, he was 
accosted by one Kirby,* a chemist: u Sir,” said he, 
(i keep within your company: your enemies have a de¬ 
sign upon your life : you may be shot in this very walk.” 
Being asked the reason of this strange address, Kirby re¬ 
plied, that two men, called Grove and Pickering, had en¬ 
gaged to shoot him; and that sir George Wakeman, the 
lueen’s physician, had undertaken to poison him. An in- 


159 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

quiry was instituted. This brought forward many atro¬ 
cious ruffians; amongst whom, none were so highly infa¬ 
mous as Titus Oates and William 'Bedloe; men who hau. 
been guilty of almost every crime in the catalogue of hu¬ 
man vices. Oates said, that he had been employed by the 
Jesuits: that he had received three blows with a stick and 
a box on the ear, from the provincial of that order, for hav¬ 
ing revealed their conspiracy; and, dreading a still severer 
punishment,had concealed himself, and nearly perished for 
want ot bread : that the pope had declared himself entitled 
to the possession of England and Ireland, on account of the 
heresy ot prince and people; that new crown officers and 
churchmen were appointed ; and immense preparations 
made ior invasion: that four assassins, at twenty guineas a 
piece, were employed to stab the king; and that Coleman, 
secretary to the late dutchess of York, had given the mes¬ 
senger who carried them the orders, a guinea, to quicken 
his diligence. 

After this, the city prepared for defence, as if an enemy 
were at the gates; which induced sir Thomas Player, the 
chamberlain, to exclaim, that were it not for such precau¬ 
tions, all the citizens might rise next morning ivith their throats 
cut. 

Sir George Wakeman and Coleman, with many others, 
were brought to trial. The former was acquitted ; but 
Coleman, and several more, were found guilty and exe¬ 
cuted. Two years afterwards, the venerable lord Stafford, 
a catholic nobleman, who had been confined as a participa¬ 
tor in this pretended conspiracy, was impeached by the 
house of lords; by whom, after a trial of six days, he was 
pronounced guilty. In all these cases, the witnesses were 
the most profligate of the human race: their testimony 
was contradicted, not only by themselves, but by the clear 
est evidence on the part of the accused; and, still further 
by the solemn declarations of the unfortunate sufferers, at 
the place of execution. 

Charles now found it expedient to dissolve the parlia 
ment. It had existed, without any general election of the 
commons, since the second year of his reign; a period of 
seventeen years; guided, rather by the impulse of party 
violence, than the dispassionate influence of patriotic integ 
rity. But, in the following year, he was constrained to 
order a new election. Besides, that he might, in some 
measure, appease the national ferment, he desired his 
brother to withdraw to the Continent; witt which request* 




158 


HISTORY O* LJN GLAND. 


Holland, and the overthrow of the national religion of Eng¬ 
land. 

The duke of York at this time openly declared 
‘ ' himself a Roman Catholic; which acknowledgment, 
as he was heir apparent to the crown, gave considerable 
alarm.—Sir William Temple, the virtuous ambassador to 
the States of Holland, is, soon afterwards, recalled : every 
insult is offered to the Dutch : a piratical attempt is made 
to intercept their Smyrna beet; and, without any ground 
for hostilities, they are involved in war. Louis now pours 
down his forces like a torrent, and enters their strong towns 
in rapid succession. But the States, having appointed the 
young prince of Orange to command their armies, he, as¬ 
sisted by the Imperialists, drives the haughty Louis, with 
precipitation, from all his conquests—A change in the Eng¬ 
lish ministry soon followed. Shaftesbury was dismissed, 
and sir Heneage Finch appointed chancellor, in his place 
To this, succeeded a separate peace with Holland; and an 
adjournment of the parliament. 

When the legislature was again assembled, the commons 
in appropriating the supplies, evinced an open distrust of 
the king ; and displayed the utmost jealousy of the duke of 
York, as well as of all who professed a similar religion 
This body was now divided into the court and the country 
party. Into the former, some were enlisted by offices and 
bribes; but many acted entirely from principle. To the 
country party, several, likewise, were attached by private 
views, or by faction ; but numbers had no other object than 
the public good. 

In the midst of those violent contentions, which again 
threatened the nation with civil wars, the cry of a plot re¬ 
sounded in the city; and soon spread its baneful influence 
throughout the kingdom. The detail, or even the mention 
of an occurrence, at once so puerile and absurd, though 
producing effects so sanguinary and disgraceful, we should 
willingly omit; but, that the recital maybe, hereafter, use¬ 
ful, in guarding against blind credulity and intolerance.— 
1678 t ^ ie king was walking in the Park, he was 

accosted by one Kirbyf a chemist: “ Sir,” said he, 
“ keep within your company: your enemies have a de¬ 
sign upon your life : you may be shot in this very walk.” 
Being asked the reason of this strange address, Kirby re¬ 
plied, that two men, called Grove and Pickering, had en¬ 
gaged to shoot him; and that sir George Wakeman, the 
pieen’s physician, had undertaken to poison him. An in- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


159 


quiry was instituted. This brought forward many atro¬ 
cious ruffians; amongst whom, none were so highly infa¬ 
mous as Titus Oates and William Bedloe; men who hau 
been guilty of almost every crime in the catalogue of hu¬ 
man vices. Oates said, that he had been employed by the 
Jesuits: that he had received three blows with a stick and 
a box on the ear, from the provincial of that order, for hav¬ 
ing revealed their conspiracy; and, dreading a still severer 
punishment, had concealed himself, and nearly perished for 
want of bread : that the pope had declared himself entitled 
to the possession of England and Ireland, on account of the 
heresy ol prince and people; that new crown officers and 
churchmen were appointed; and immense preparations 
made lor invasion: that four assassins, at twenty guineas a 
piece, were employed to stab the king; and that Coleman, 
secretary to the late dutchess of York, had given the mes¬ 
senger who carried them the orders, a guinea , to quicken 
his diligence. 

After this, the city prepared for defence, as if an enemy 
were at the gates; which induced sir Thomas Player, the 
chamberlain, to exclaim, that were it not for such precau¬ 
tions, all the citizens might rise next morning with their throats 
cut. 

Sir George Wakeman and Coleman, with many others, 
were brought to trial. The former was acquitted ; but 
Coleman, and several more, were found guilty and exe¬ 
cuted. Two years afterwards, the venerable lord Stafford, 
a catholic nobleman, who had been confined as a participa¬ 
tor in this pretended conspiracy, was impeached by the 
house of lords; by whom, after a trial of six days, he was 
pronounced guilty. In all these cases, the witnesses were 
the most profligate of the human race: their testimony 
was contradicted, not only by themselves, but by the clear 
est evidence on the part of the accused; and, still further 
by the solemn declarations of the unfortunate sufferers, at 
the place of execution. 

Charles now found it expedient to dissolve the parlia 
ment. It had existed, without any general election of the 
commons, since the second year of his reign; a period of 
seventeen years; guided, rather by the impulse of party 
violence, than the dispassionate influence of patriotic integ 
rity. But, in the following year, he was constrained to 
order a new election. Besides, that he might, in some 
measure, appease the national ferment, he desired his 
brother to withdraw to the Continent; wit! which request, 




1 o HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

ti e duxe readily complied. But Charles found the present 
parliament, particularly the lower house, more reli actoi y 
than even the former. In concert, thereloie, with sir 
William Temple, a new council was formed; into which, 
weve admitted, many of those statesmen who enjoyed the 
confidence of the people; and the king’ declared, that with¬ 
out their advice, he would not transact any business of 
importance. The earls of Essex and Sunderland, viscount 
Halifax, and Temple, formed the cabinet; and, contrary 
to the remonstrance of the latter, Shaftesbury, who, after 
the dissolution of the Cabal, had espoused, with violence, 
the popular side, was made president of the privy council. 
In the house of commons, a bill was passed, by a large 
majority, for totally excluding the duke from the crown; 
but it did not become a law. Soon afterwards, the two 
houses, having a most violent altercation as to their re¬ 
spective privileges, the king, without advising with his 
council, dissolved the parliament. 

By the tyrannical conduct of Lauderdale and the 
1679 ’ duke of York, the people in Scotland were at length 
driven to open rebellion. T hough prelacy had been abol¬ 
ished, and the presbyterian form of worship established 
there, soon after the reformation; yet, an exact compli¬ 
ance with the episcopal form of worship was now enforced 
with so rigorous and severe penalties, that the people 
rose in arms, and put to death the archbishop of St. An¬ 
drews. English soldiers were dispersed over the country, 
and power was given to all commissioned officers to com¬ 
pel every one they met to take a prescribed oath; and in¬ 
stantly to shoot any person that refused. Three women, 
who declared they would not take it, were condemned to a 
capital punishment, by drowning. One of these was an 
elderly woman, the other two were young: one of the lat¬ 
ter was eighteen years of age; the other, only thirteen. 
Even these violent persecutors were ashamed to put the 
youngest to death: but the other two were tied to stakes, 
within the sea-mark, at low water; a contrivance, which 
rendered their death lingering and dreadful. The elderly 
woman was placed the farthest in, and, by the rising of the 
waters, was first drowned. The younger, partly terrified 
by the view of her companion’s death, partly overcome by 
the entreaties of her friends, was prevailed on to say God 
save the king. Immediately, she was loosened from the 
stake: but, the officer who guarded the execution, having 
again required her to take the oath, on her refusal, he or 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 161 

tiered her instantly to be plunged into the water ; where 
she was held until every sign of life was extinct. 

To quell the insurrection in Scotland, the king despatch¬ 
ed a body of troops, under the duke of Monmouth, 
popular nobleman, a member of the established church, 
wh-o makes a conspicuous figure in the history of that age, 
was a natural son of the king, and by the intrigues of tne 
earl of Shaftesbury, was inspired with the hope of succeed 
ins: to the crown. Monmouth encountered the Scottish 
malcontents at Bothwel-Bridge, between Hamilton and 
Glasgow; and soon put them to flight.*—Shortly afterwards, 
die king, being dangerously ill, was visited by the duke ol 
Y'ork; at whose suggestions, Monmouth was sent out of 
• he kingdom. 

At this time, there was summoned another par* 
J6S1 * liament; which, for the greater security of the king 
and his adherents, against the violence of the people, was 
ordered to meet at Oxford. The country party had lately 
received the name of Whigs; the court faction that 01 
Tories ; and mutual animosity rose to so alarming a height, 
that the king thought it expedient again to dissolve them. 

There is the same difference between the whigs and the 
tories, as subsisted between the plebeians and the patrici¬ 
ans of ancient Rome. The latter would have conferred all 
power, honours, and riches, upon a few individuals, whilst 
the great body of the people were kept in a state of pover¬ 
ty and dependence: the former wished to preserve as much 
eouality amongst the different ranks of men, as is consist¬ 
ent with the ends of civil government. 

During the latter part of his reign, Charles continued to 
rule without parliaments, and proceeded to invade, with¬ 
out fear or remorse, the most valuable privileges of his 
subjects. He deprived the city of London, and most of 
the corporations in England, of their charters; and, though 
they were afterwards restored, yet, it was on conditions so 
precarious, that the rights of the people were left entirely 

at the king’s mercy. . . 

There was now formed a regular project ot m* 
1680. gurrection. A council of six was erected; consist¬ 
ing of Monmouth, Russel, Essex, Algernon Sydney, lord 
Howard, and John Hambden, grandson of the great par¬ 
liamentary leader. These men differed extremely in then 
views. Essex and Sydney were advocates for a common 
wealth : Russel and Hambden aimed only at the exclusion 
of the duke of York: lord Howard was a man of no princi - 




HISTORY OF EJNGLAiND 


w62 

pie; and Monmouth intended to acquire the crown for 
himself. Notwithstanding this discordance, their common 
hatred of the duke of York united them into one party. 
There was also an inferior order of conspirators, whose 
meetings were called the Rye House Plot; which, in addi¬ 
tion to the insurrection, carried on other schemes, unknown 
to the former. Through the treachery of some of these 
subordinates, intelligence was ^iven to government. Mon¬ 
mouth absconded: Russel, Essex, Sydney, Hambden, and 
Howard, were arrested. Russel and Sydney, both eminent 
for their virtues, suffered death, from the infidelity of How¬ 
ard, and the violence and inhumanity of chief justice Jef¬ 
feries; who prevailed on a partial jury to give a verdict 
contrary to the evidence. Hambden was fined forty-thou¬ 
sand pounds : Essex was found dead in prison ; having, ac¬ 
cording to the inquest, committed suicide. 

It was supposed by some, that the king had at 
°* length determined to dismiss his obnoxious minis¬ 
ters, and throw himself on the affection of his subjects. 
But, amidst these virtuous designs, (which, it is probable, 
tie never did entertain,) he was seized with an apoplexy; 
that, in a few*days, carried him off, in the fifty-fifth year of 
nis age, and the twenty-fifth of his reign. 

On his death-bed, he received the sacrament from a Ro¬ 
man Catholic clergyman. 

In 1671 , an officer who had served in Cromwell’s army, 
named Blood, had nearly succeeded in carrying off the 
crown and other regalia, from the Tower. He had wound¬ 
ed and bound Edwards, the keeper of the jewel-office, and 
had escaped from that fortress with his prey, when he was 
overtaken and seized. This man had, a little before, been 
concerned in an attempt much more criminal, and nearly 
as hazardous. Having been attainted in Ireland for en¬ 
deavouring to raise an insurrection there, and some of his 
accomplices having been capitally punished, he determined 
to be revenged upon the duke of Ormond, the lord lieuten 
ant. Having, by artifice, drawn off* the duke’s footman, he 
attacked his coach, as it drove in the night-time, through 
St. James’ Street in London; and made himself master of 
his person. He might here have finished his crime, had 
he not meditated refinement in his revenge. He resolved 
to hang the duke at Tyburn, the place for executing the 
vilest criminals; and, for that purpose, he bound him, and 
mounted him on horse-back, behind one of his companions. 
They were advanced some distance into the fields, when tha 




HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 163 

duke succeeded m throwing himself to the ground, and 
brought down with him the assassin to whom he was fast 
ened. They were struggling together in the mire, when 
the duke’s servants, whom the alarm had now reached, 
came up, and saved him; and Blood, with his companions, 
firing their pistols in a hurry at the duke, rode oIV, and 
saved themselves by means of the darkness. 

Blood having been soon afterwards imprisoned, the king 
was moved, by an idle curiosity, to see and speak with a 
person so noted for his courage and his crimes. Blood 
might now esteem himself secure of a pardon. Charles 
bestowed upon him an estate of four-hundred pounds a 
year; encouraged his attendance about his person; and, 
whiEt old Edwards, who had bravely ventured his life in 
defending the regalia, was neglected and forgotten, this 
man, who deserved to be detested as a monster, became a 
kind of favourite. 

On the restoration, the king consented to turn all the 
military tenures, established at the Conquest, (with only one 
exception) into what is called socage, or payment of a com¬ 
mon rent, in consideration of a settled revenue; and thus, 
the feudal system was abolished, though many of the rules 
of English law, founded on its principles, still retain their 
force. Many other salutary changes were extorted from 
this tyrannical sovereign. Besides having their lands de¬ 
livered from the slavery of military tenures, his subjects 
had their bodies freed from arbitrary imprisonment, by the 
Habeas Corpus act; and their minds from the tyranny of 
superstitious bigotry, by the abolition of the law for burning 
heretics; the last badge of persecution in the English law. 

It is said, that Andrew Marvell, a member for Hull in 
this reign, was the last person in England that received 
wages from his constituents. Two shillings a day, the al¬ 
lowance to a burgess, was so considerable a sum in ancient 
times, that there are many instances in which the boroughs 
petitioned to be excused from sending members to parlia¬ 
ment ; and, it is remarkable, that from about the middle of 
Edward the third’s reign, to the end of Henry the fourth’s, 
the sheriff of Lancashire returned as an excuse, “ that 
there are not any cities or boroughs within the county of 
Lancaster, out of which any citizens or burgesses ought or 
are used to go to the said parliament; nor can they, by 
reason of their inability and poverty.”* 

, Y ' .. . 

* “Nod sunt aliqui civitates seu burgi infra comitatem Lancastrian 

? . 


164 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Immediately after the Restoration, Wilkins, bishop of 
Chester, brother-in-law of Cromwell, with a few other men 
of philosophical taste, established the Royal Society of 
London. "But, to this institution, Charles contributed 
only his countenance ; for, though he was a great admirer 
of the sciences, his courtiers and his mistresses kept him 
so extremely poor, that he was unable to give pecuniary 
assistance. In this reign, was enacted, the first law for 
establishing turnpikes: sea-signals were invented by the 
duke of York- and a charter was granted to the Hudson’s 
Bay Company. 

The poets, who properly fall under our present division, 
are, Butler, and Cotton; Dryden, Otway, and Roscommon. 
Samuel Butler was author of the celebrated satirical poem 
of Hudibras; the action of which is laid in the time ol 
Cromwell. The hero is a fanatical justice of the peace; 
who, through the confidence of authority, and the impulse 
of zealous ignorance, ranges the country, to repress super¬ 
stition, correct abuses, and prevent the exercise of inno¬ 
cent amusement. Cotton wrote an amusing travestie of 
the iEneid.'—Scarcely any man has employed his pen so 
"Variously as Dryden: he was a critic, and a dramatist; a 
modernizer of obsolete literature, and a translator. As a 
poet, he was either serious, satirical, or encomiastic; equal¬ 
ly ready to praise the dark hypocrisy of Cromwell, or the 
open licentiousness of Charles. His most esteemed work 
is his translation of Virgil.—Otway, whose principal talent 
lay in moving the passions, has afforded the admirers of 
the tragic drama a rich feast, in his Orphan, and in his 
Venice Preserved.—Wentworth Dillon, earl of Roscom¬ 
mon, has left some fine translations from the Latin; amongst 
which, Horace’s Art ot Poetry is thought to be the best. 
Dennis is celebrated as a critic; Wycherley, as a contribu¬ 
tor to the comic drama; and Bunyan, for his Pilgrim’s Pro¬ 
gress. The Oriental languages were indefatigably studied 
by Dr. Thomas Hyde. Antiquities employed the indus¬ 
trious Ware, Skinner, and sir William Dugdale. Mathe 
matics were attended with increasing ardour James Greg¬ 
ory and Hobbes, Wallis, and John Flamsteed, rivalled the 
most illustrious philosophers of the European continent. 
Gregory was the inventor of the reflecting telescope; and 

de quibus aliqui cives vel burgenses addictum parliamenturri venire 
oebent seu solent; nec possunt, propter eorum debilitatem et pauper- 
tatem ” 









HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 165 

Flamsteed, lor his extensive discoveries, was appointed 
astronomer at Greenwich: the observatory having been 
raised under his directions. 

Sir Matthew Hale, chief justice of the king’s bench, was 
a highly respected character, and wrote on a variety of 
subjects. Of his several works, the “ Pleas of the Crown,” 
and the “ Original Institution, Power, and Jurisdiction of 
Parliaments,” are the most deserving of attention. In his 
time, the judges were not so attentive as at the present day, 
m preserving a clear conscience; but this great lawyer 
formed an amiable contrast to the votaries of corruption. 
In one of his circuits, a gentleman, who had a trial at the 
assizes, sent him a buck for his table. When sir Matthew 
heard his name called, he asked, if he was not the same 
person who had sent him the venison; and finding that he 
was, he told him, that he could not suffer the trial to go on 
until he paid him for his buck. It was accordingly paid 
lor; and the gentleman withdrew his record. 

In consideration of admiral Penn’s services, the king, in 
the year 1681, granted to that officer’s son, William, the 
power of colonizing the great tract of country, called, after 
the admiral, Pennsylvania. 

A remarkable instance of longevity had been shown m 
the reign of Charles I; when, Thomas Parr, a labouring 
man of Yorkshire, who had lived in ten reigns, completed 
one-hundred-and-sixty years ; and James Bowels of Kil- 
lingsworth, died in the time of the Commonwealth, at the 
great age of a hundred-and-fifty-two. But a still more un¬ 
common length of years was attained by Henry Jenkins, 
of Yorkshire, who died in 1670; having completed one- 
hundred-and-sixty-nine. 

REVOLUTION. 

JAMES THE SECOND. 

1685—1689 

^The late king, not having had any legitimate children 
was succeeded by his only brother, James, duke of York 
Unfortunately for himself, and for the empire, he professed 
a religion different from that of the established church; 
the members of which, in England, together with Mie pres- 
byterians, outnumbered the Roman Catholics in the nro 
portion of one-hundred to one. 

P 



166 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


No declarations could appear more fair, than those which 
the king made on assembling the council. “ It has been 
reported,” he said, “ that I have imbibed tyrannical princi 
pies: but I am determined never to violate the laws ol Eng¬ 
land. They are sufficient to make me as great a monarch 
as I can wish; and I shall, as heretofore, venture my life, in 
defence of the nation, and its just liberties and rights.” 

Amongst the numerous addresses, which James received 
from his subjects, the congratulation of the Quakers is a 
little singular. “ We are come,” said they,“ to testify our 
sorrow for the death of our good friend, Charles, and our 
joy for thy being made our governor. We are told, that 
thou art not of the persuasion of the church of England, 
no more than we. Wherefore, we hope thou wilt grant us 
the same liberty which thou allowest thyself: which doing, 
we w?’h thee all manner of happiness.” 

Soon, however, the public suspicion was realized. He 
issued orders tor illegally collecting duties ; despatched to 
Rome an agent, to make submissions to the pope; and re¬ 
ceived from him a nuncio, though, by so doing, he infringed 
an established law. He recalled the duke of Ormond from 
the government of Ireland; and, in his place, appointed 
Talbot, earl of Tyrconnel; who carried over with him, as 
chancellor, one Fitton; a man who was taken from a jail; 
who had been convicted of forgery and other crimes; and 
who, as well as Tyrconnel, was chosen merely on account of 
his great zeal for the religion of his master. The officers 
and soldiers, in that kingdom, who professed the reformed 
religion, were disbanded; stripped of their clothing, and 
turned out upon the public. In every department, through¬ 
out the empire, men were appointed to official duties with¬ 
out having taken the legal test. Corporations were de¬ 
prived of their charters, parliamentary elections, in many 
places, were made by the sole authority of the king; and 
the parliament itself was threatened with the royal pre¬ 
rogative, in case of opposition to his wishes. 

The satisfaction which James enjoyed by these oppres¬ 
sions, Wets suddenly interrupted. The duke of Monmouth, 
having procured a few ships in Holland, arrived at Lime, 
in Dorsetshire; and, alleging that his mother had been 
married to Charles the second, openly declared himself 
the legitimate heir of the English throne. Though, on 
landing, he had scarcely one-hundred followers; yet, so 
great was his popularity, that, in a few days upwards of 
six-thousand men crowded to his standard. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 16*7 

To check his progress, three-thousand well disciplined 
troops, under the command of the earl of Feversham and 
lord Churchill, (afterwards duke of Marlborough) were sent 
forward by the king. At Sedgemoor, near Bridgewater, a 
battle ensued. Great bravery was displayed by the coun¬ 
try lorces ; but, through the bad generalship of Monmouth, 
and the cowardice of lord Gray, who commanded the cav¬ 
alry, they were defeated. Monmouth fled from the field 
ol battle, until his horse sunk, exhausted by fatigue. He 
then changed clothes with a peasant; and, at last, was found, 
covered over with fern, in the bottom of a ditch—his body 
emaciated by hunger; his mind depressed by the recollec¬ 
tion of the past, and the prospect of the future. Soon, 
however, this unhappy nobleman ended his career upon the 
scaffold. He warned the executioner not to fall into the 
error which he had committed in beheading lord Russel: 
when it had been necessary to repeat the blow. But, this 
precaution served only to dismay him. He made a feeble 
stroke at Monmouth, who raised his head from the block, 
and looked him in the face, as if reproaching him with his 
failure. He gently laid down his head a second time; and 
the executioner struck him again and again, without effect 
He then threw aside the axe, and cried out that he was in¬ 
capable of finishing the bloody office. But the sheriff com 
pelled him to renew the attempt; and, at two strokes more 
his head was severed from his body. 

Had Monmouth’s design succeeded, the miseries of the 
nation would have been increased; not alleviated. Expe¬ 
rience has shown, that it is a bad remedy to exchange ty¬ 
ranny for usurpation. 

The attempts of the marquis of Argyle, who, in concert 
with Monmouth, had landed in Scotland, were equally un¬ 
successful. That nobleman, who, after being condemned 
in the preceding reign, had escaped into Holland, was now 
taken prisoner, and executed. 

The edict of Nantz, which Henry the fourth had enacted 
in favour of the protestants, was, by the impolicy of Louis 
revoked ; and, in consequence, above Half a million, of his 
most industrious subjects, deserted France; nearly fifty- 
thousand of whom arrived in England. This measure of 
the French king, whilst it established, in Great Britain, 
many of his most valuable manufactures, especially silk, 
served to increase the general apprehensions for the national 
religion. Another event, too, occurred, which pro¬ 
duced a considerable sensat ion. This was, the birth 


168 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


of a royal heir; who received the usual title of prince cf 
Wales. 

National grievances were now at their greatest height. 
The appellation of whig or tory was no longer heard. All 
lovers of their country joined to throw off the. oppressive 
burthen, and applied to the prince of Orange for assistance. 
The bishop of London, the earls of Danbv, Nottingham, 
Devonshire, and Dorset; the duke of Norfolk, the marquis 
of Halifax, the lords Lovelace, Delamare, Paulet, and 
Eland; Messrs. Hambden, Powle, and Lester; besides 
many eminent citizens of London—all these persons, 
though of opposite parties, concurred in the application. 

William, prince of Orange, was a maternal grandson of 
Charles the first, and a maternal nephew and son-in-law of 
James; having been married, in the late reign, to the prin¬ 
cess Mary. 

With the utmost secrecy and expedition, the prince pre¬ 
pared a fleet of five-hundred vessels, and an army of four 
teen-thousand men; with which, he sailed from Helvoet- 
Sluys, and arrived safely in Torbay. All England was soon 
in commotion. In a few days, the greater part of the Eng¬ 
lish army had gone over to him. James, agitated and alarm¬ 
ed, determined to escape to France; and sent off, before 
him, the queen and the infant prince. He himself, accom¬ 
panied only by sir Edward Hales, disappeared in the night; 
and, having thrown the great seal of England into the 
Thames, endeavoured to reach a ship which waited for him 
near the mouth of the river. But, being seized by the 
populace at Feversham, he was taken back to London. 

All now was anarchy and suspense. The Dutch guards 
to.ok possession of the palace; and the king, deserted by 
his friends, and despised by his enemies, was suffered qui¬ 
etly to withdraw. He embarked at Rochester; and thence 
proceeded to Ambleteuse, in France.—Thus, was the de¬ 
liverance of England effected ; and with very little effu¬ 
sion of blood : as only a few soldiers were killed, in an 
accidental skirmish. 

For the purpose of settling the government, a 
convention Avas assembled. It consisted of all the 
members who had sat in the house of commons, during 
any of the parliaments of Charles the second ; as those 
of James were illegal: also, the mayor, aldermen, and 
fifty of the common council of London. They made the 
following declaration ; which received fhe concurrence of 
the peers: “That, king James the second, having endcav- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


169 

oured to subvert the constitution of the kingdom, by break¬ 
ing the original contract between king and people; and 
having, by the advice of wicked counsellors, violated the 
fundamental laws, and withdrawn himself out of the king¬ 
dom, has abdicated the government; and that the throne 
is thereby vacant.” 

A bill was then passed, which excluded Roman Catho 
lies from the regal office, and settled the crown on the 
prince and princess of Orange and her issue; the sole ad¬ 
ministration to remain in the prince; after their death, on 
the princess Anne, second daughter of king James, and 
wife of prince George of Denmark, and her issue; and 
lastly, on the heirs of the prince himself. 

To this settlement, was annexed a Declaration of Rights; 
in which, all those matters, between the king and the 
people, so often the subjects of dispute, were finally deter¬ 
mined ; and, thus, the royal prerogative was more nar¬ 
rowly circumscribed than at any former period of the 
English government. 

James was twice married : first, to Anne Hyde, daugh¬ 
ter of the earl of Clarendon; and afterwards to Maria 
Josepha, sister of the duke of Modena. By his first queen, 
who was of the protestant faith, he had eight children; 
two only of whom were at this time living—Mary, married 
to the prince of Orange, and Anne, the consort of prince 
George of Denmark. By his second, who was a Roman 
Catholic, he had five children; of whom, there was now 
alive one son, James, prince of Wales. 

The national debt, at the revolution, amounted to about 
a million sterling: the fleet consisted of one-hundred-and- 
seventy vessels, and required forty-two-thousand men. 


CHAPTER XV. 

WILLIAM AND MARY. 

1689—1702. 

THE principal ministers, at this time, were, the earls of 
Nottingham and Shrewsbury, the marquis of Halifax, and 
Jentinck, created earl of Portland; who was the greatest 
favourite of the king. In religious affairs, William was a 
man of considerable moderation; and, being a presbyterian, 
P 2 


170 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


naturally used his influence with parliament, to obtain, for 
all sects cf dissenters from the established church, some 
degree of toleration; in which, he was successful. That he 
would have extended to the Roman Catholics the same 
protection, we have just reason to believe; but the fer¬ 
ment then existing in England, would have rendered abor- 
live every exertion in their favour. 

In Scotland, the duke of Hamilton, and all the presby- 
terians, declared for William : the duke of Gordon, and 
his friends, held out in favour of James. At length, a 
smart engagement ensued, at the pass of Killycrankie, 
in Perthshire; where, the Highlanders, headed by lord 
Dundee, defeated the English under general Mackay. In 
this battle, twelve-hundred of the latter were killed: but 
Dundee having fallen, the affairs of his party, thence* 
forward, went to ruin; and, in a short time, all the clans 
submitted to the English. 

Ireland, the population of which was then, as it is now 
mostly Roman Catholic, maintained allegiance to the exiled 
monarch; affording him a flattering prospect of success 
Having therefore received from the king of France every 
assistance that such an expedition required, James, ac¬ 
companied by a splendid retinue, sailed from Brest; and 
arrived, on the 22nd of March, at Kinsale. In a few days 
afterwards, he made a public entry into Dublin. Then, 
having summoned a parliament to meet in the ensuing 
May, he departed for the north, and took Ills post before 
the walls of Derry. 

This city, being an English settlement, resolved to de¬ 
fend itself to the last, against king James; and maintained 
one of the most obstinate sieges that history records. De¬ 
serted by the commander, who saw no probability of sue 
cess, the townsmen chose for their governors, George 
Walker, rector of Donaghmore, and major Baker. Their 
situation was deplorable. Their fortifications were only 
trifling: their cannon, which did not exceed twenty pieces, 
were badly mounted: they had not one engineer to direct 
their operations; and were besieged by a king, in person, 
at the head of a formidable army, with experienced offi¬ 
cers, and every engine either for a siege or battle. After 
being many times repulsed, James returned to Dublin; 
having left the command to the French general, Rosene. 
This officer disgraced his memory, by his subsequent be¬ 
haviour in the siege; having acted in the most barbarous 
manner, contrary even to the express orders of his employ* 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17 J 

er. The garrison, for want of food, were now reduced to 
extremity; but an English frigate, having broken the boom 
which had been laid across the river, brought them a joy 
ful reliei; and the besiegers abandoned the attack; after 
losing before the place nine-thousand men. 

13y the inattention of the English administration, James 
had been six months in Ireland before an army was sent 
over to oppose him. In the month of August, duke Schom 
oerg, with ten-thousand men, landed near Carrickfergus; 
ol which place, he got possession, and, subsequently, of 
Belfast, Newry, and Dundalk: but, in the neighbourhood 
ol the latter, he remained encamped, upon low, swampy 
ground, until half his army fell victims to a contagious 
disorder. 

1690. m iddleof June, William himself, attended 

by prince George of Denmark, the duke of Ormond, 
the earl of Stair, and many more persons of distinction 
landed at Carrickfergus. Thence, he proceeded for Bel¬ 
fast; where he was met by Schomberg. Having rested 
there for a few days, he passed through Lisburn and Hills¬ 
borough, to Loughbrickland; where, on reviewing his army, 
he found that it amounted to thirty-six-thousand effective 
men. He then marched to Dundalk; and, taking the road 
through Ardee, arrived on the left bank of the Boyne, about 
three miles above Drogheda. On the opposite bank, James 
was prepared to oppose him; with an army composed of 
Irish and French, nearly equal in number to his adversa¬ 
ry’s. The ground on which James’s army stood, was much 
exposed to the fire of his enemy. Rising gradually from 
the river, it forms an inclined plane, receding about two 
miles; so that every shot from the other side must take 
effect: and its bank offers to an assailant not the smallest 
natural obstruction. William had every advantage that 
a general could demand. The bank upon which he stood 
is elevated at least twenty feet above the river, presenting, 
along its entire front, a commanding battery. From this, 
his cannon could play upon the enemy, directly over the 
heads of his own men, during the crossing of the river, 
which, with little difficulty, is fordable. On his right, there 
winded a deep ravine, which extended to the Boyne, and 
afforded a cover to his troops, when approaching to the 
attack. William, when he had leisure to view from this 
situation the surrounding country, delighted with its beau - 
ty and fertility, exclaimed—■“ This, indeed, is a kingdom 
worthy of a battle.” 


172 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


In the morning, at six o’clock, general Douglas, with 
the younger Schomberg and the earl of Portland, marched 
towards Slane bridge; and, with little opposition, passed 
the river. The Irish troops then faced about, and hastily 
retreated to Duleek. At this moment, king William’s main 
body, consisting principally of the Dutch guards and some 
battalions of English, crossed the river, under a general 
discharge of artillery. The elder Schomberg, who led on 
the attack, being killed by the fire of his own men, the 
battle was for some time doubtful; but William, having 
gone over with his left wing, after a hard contested action, 
gained a complete victory. 

In this memorable engagement, the French and Swiss 
auxiliaries sustained the contest with intrepidity and per 
severance ; but the Irish displayed none of that undaunted 
bravery, which has covered them with glory when abroad 
James, who remained during the action on the hill of Dun- 
more, which overlooked the field of battle, retreated through 
Dublin, to Waterford. There, he embarked ; and, in a few 
days, arrived in France. 

At the scene of action, upon a small projecting rock on 
the left bank of the Boyne, there is erected a handsome 
obelisk, with an inscription commemorative of his defeat 

But William met a severe repulse at Limerick. This 
place w r as commanded by Boisseleau ; who, ably assisted 
by colonel Sarsfield, drove the king from before its walls 
with considerable loss. After this, he embarked at Dun- 
cannon, and returned to England. His affairs, however, 
were soon retrieved. Marlborough having arrived in Ire¬ 
land, in a few days reduced the towns of Cork and Kinsale. 
At Athlone and Aughrim, the adherents of James were 
equally untortunate. General Ginckel, having taken the 
former, proceeded to Aughrim; where, after a most gal¬ 
lant resistance by the French general, St. Ruth, who was 
killed in the action, the Irish army were overthrown. They 
then retreated to Limerick, resolved to make there a final 
stand; in the hope of receiving from France succours suffi 
cient to restore their affairs, or of obtaining favourable 
terms from the court of England. 

1691 Limerick was now the only place of importance 
unsubdued. It was invested by general Ginckel* 
who, after a severe bombardment, forced it to capitulate; 
and, on the fourth of October, the articles of surrender 
were completed. This celebrated treaty extended to all 
places in the kingdom, that were yet in the hands of lie 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


173 


Irish :■ it restored to the Roman Catholics, the same de¬ 
gree of religious liberty, enjoyed by them in the reign of 
Charles the second; and their estates, privileges, and im¬ 
munities. It allowed the inhabitants of all the garrisons 
to remove their goods, without search, or payment of duty; 
and all who were inclined, to leave the kingdom, and settle 
in any country, except England or Scotland. In conse¬ 
quence, twelve-thousand men emigrated to France; where, 
James thanked them for their loyalty, and assured them, 
that the French king had already given orders for their re¬ 
ception. 

To dwell upon the numerous conspiracies in England, 
which successively kept the nation in alarm : to carry our 
readers over that extensive field upon the Continent, in 
which the ambition of the king of France was combated, 
with various fortune, by the bravery of William and his 
allies; or to detail the numerous operations of the con¬ 
tending navies; would produce neither interest, nor plea 
sure, nor admiration. We can feel no interest in con¬ 
spiracies, of which the agents and the effects are alike 
forgotten: no pleasure in the recital of massacre and ruin; 
nor admiration in the review of sea-fights, not conspicuous 
for a display either of heroism or skill. Of all the admirals, 
the most prominent was Rooke : the most remarkable 
sieges were those of Namur. This place, situated at the 
confluence of the Mease and Sambre, was besieged by 
Louis the fourteenth, at the head of one-hundred-and- 
twenty-thousand men ; and taken, in sight of king Wil¬ 
liam’s army, after an obstinate resistance. Though, how 
ever, Vauban the celebrated engineer, had exhausted his 
whole art in its defence, it was retaken by the allied forces, 
under William’s command. 

In the preceding year, the queen was seized with the 
small pox; which caused her death, in the thirty-third year 
of her age. 

After a tedious and sanguinary contest, peace was 
1697 * concluded at Ryswick, in Holland. From this pe- 
iod, nothing claiming particular attention, occurred, until 
he death of James; which happened at St. Germains, in 
four years after that of his daughter Mary. Contrary to 
an article in the treaty of Ryswick, Louis proclaimed the 
prince of Wales, James’s son, king of England; which ac¬ 
knowledgment, in the course of time, produced impo-tyu 
consequences. « 


174 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


In the following spring, the bustling life of the 
martial William closed. When he had reached the 
fifty-second year of his age, and the fourteenth of his reign, 
he exchanged the gaudy trappings of the soldier, for the 
plain habiliments of the tomb. This prince was of the 
middle stature: he had an aquiline nose, and sparkling eyes. 
In the palace, he was unpleasing and reserved: in battle, 
lree, spirited, and cheerful. 

In this reign, the linen manufacture of Ireland was pro¬ 
moted, and the Bank of England established; the notes of 
which, owing to the public distress arising from the im 
mense expenses of the war, were, for a while, twenty per 
cent, below their nominal value. About the same time, 
commenced also in England, the system of private banking; 
before which, ail money transactions were managed by the 
goldsmiths. 

The celebrated Peter the Great of Russia at this time 
visited England; and attended chiefly to acquiring the art 
of ship-building. 

William had the honour of employing in his service, those 
two transcendent luminaries of science—sir Isaac Newton, 
and John Locke. Of all the philosophers, or mathemati 
cians, that the world ever produced, sir Isaac Newton was 
the greatest. He was born at Woolsthorp, near Grantham, 
in Lincolnshire, in 1642, and died in 1726, in the eighty-fifth 
year of his age; universally admired for his amiable dispo¬ 
sition. His great works are, his Mathematical Principles 
of Natural Philosophy, his Optics, and his Fluxions; of 
which science, he was the inventor. If we say that Locke, 
as a profound philosopher, has had no superior, except 
Newton, we accord with the general opinion. His most 
celebrated performance is the Essay on Human Under¬ 
standing. 

Robert Boyle was one of the most illustrious and virtu¬ 
ous men that ever employed their lives in the developement 
°f nature. His completion of the air-pump, in which he was 
aided by the mechanical genius of the astronomer, Hooke, 
ueserves recording: though it is a very small portion of his 
successful labours. Halley, also, and David,nephew of James, 
Gregory, wpue accomplished mathematicians: Anthony 
Ashley Cooper, lord Shaftesbury, grandson of the infamous 
member ol the Cabal, reflected lustre upon his title, by his 
devotion to the cause of freedom, and by his admirable 
C/hai act eristics: nor can too much veneration be admit- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


ted for sir John Holt, a lawyer, as bold and patriotic in the 
senate, as he was learned and incorruptible on the bench. 

Dr. Tillotson was archbishop of Canterbury; and Burnet, 
who wrote the History of the Reformation, enjoyed the see 
vof Salisbury. 

This, and the succeeding reign, are conspicuous for their 
poetical productions. The poets of this period were, Pom- 
fret, Garth, Lee, Prior, Congreve, and sir Richard Black- 
more. The best written of the first mentioned, is his 
“ Choice;” a work which has been as much read as almost 
any in our language. Garth was a patron of learning, was 
distinguished for his own literature, his knowledge of medi¬ 
cine ; and, still more, for his exertions in favour of the poor. 
He is the author of the Dispensary; a poem written prin¬ 
cipally to defend the utility of assisting the needy with me¬ 
dicine and advice. Prior was first brought into notice by 
his City Mouse and Country Mouse, written, in conjunction 
with Mr. Montague, (afterwards lord Halifax,) to ridicule 
Dryden’s Hind and Panther. This procured its author’s 
speedy preferment at court. As a diplomatist, Prior’s abili¬ 
ties were of the first order; and he was employed in the 
most difficult negotiations. One day, whilst surveying the 
royal apartments at Versailles, being shown the Victories 
of Louis, painted by Le Brun, and being asked, whether 
the king of England’s palace had any decorations of that 
kind: “The monuments of my master’s actions,” he repli¬ 
ed, “ are to be seen every where but in his own house.” - 
Congreve is to be considered as a dramatic writer; in whit h 
line, he was highly distinguished. His best production*, 
are, his Old Bachelor, and Mourning Bride. But the gene 
ral tenor of his plays, in common with nearly all that were 
written in his day, is reprehensible. However, by long con¬ 
tinued critical attacks, in which Collier was the principal 
assailant, the immorality of the drama was in a great mea¬ 
sure overthrown.—Blackmore, as well as Garth, was an 
eminent physician, and was employed in that profession by 
the king. His Creation, a philosophical poem, has been 
much admired, for the beauty of its versification and the 
strength of its reasoning. 

Dr. Edward Bernard, a learned critic, linguist, and as¬ 
tronomer, composed many valuable nautical tables, and was 
industrious in collecting and comparing ancient manuscvipi s 
in different parts of Europe.—Few literary men have expe¬ 
rienced more opposition than Dr. Bentley, an eminent critic 
and divine of this period ; who, in a subsequent reign, filled 


176 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

the situation of royal professor of divinity, in the university 
of Cambridge. Besides having the great Boyle as an an¬ 
tagonist, he was assailed by the cutting satire of Swift, in 
the Tale of a Tub and Battle of the Books, and in the far 

famed Dunciad of Pope. 4 

It has been frequently observed, that king William’s 
ideas were all military. Two establishments, at Greenwich 
and Chelsea, the one commenced, and the other completed 
in this reign, to which we may reasonably suppose he gave 
particular attention, are adduced in corroboration. Green¬ 
wich Hospital, upon the Thames, about six miles from Lon¬ 
don, originally a favourite residence of the English princes, 
especially of Henry the seventh, and Charles the second, 
was now enlarged ; and, with a few acres of ground, appro¬ 
priated for the residence of aged and disabled seamen, the 
widows and children of those who lost their lives in the ser¬ 
vice of their country, and for the encouragement of naviga¬ 
tion. The present establishment consists of two-thousand- 
four-hundred pensioners, and three-thousand out-pension¬ 
ers, with a sufficient number of nurses, and other attend¬ 
ants. In point of elegance of architecture, and liberal en¬ 
dowment, there is scarcely so great an institution in the 
world. Behind the hospital, is a delightful park, well stock¬ 
ed with deer, in which is an observatory, furnished with all 
kinds of astronomical instruments.—Chelsea Hospital 
sometimes called Chelsea College, is also situated on the 
Thames, about a mile above the western extremity of Lon¬ 
don. This noble building, as well as the addition to Green¬ 
wich Hospital, was designed by the great architect and 
mathematician, sir Christopher Wren; and is exclusively 
for invalids of the land-service. The ordinary pensioners 
are about five-hundred: but the extraordinary, or out-pen¬ 
sioners, exceed twelve-thousand; and are allowed each 
twelve pounds a year; which expense is supported chiefly 
by a poundage deducted from the pay of the army, and one 
day’s pay in each year from every officer and private. 

Bayonets, a French invention, were at this time first used 
by the English army. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


177 


CHAPTER XVI. 

ANNE. 

Legislative Union with Scotland. 

1702—1714. 

IN conformity with the act of settlement, Anne, second 
daughter of the unfortunate James, ascended the throne 
having the general approbation of the kingdom. She was 
now in her thirty-eighth year; being married, as we before 
related, to George, prince of Denmark. She was rather 
pleasing than beautiful; and though, like the rest of her 
family, she was fitted rather for the domestic employment 
of a parent, than the public duty of a sovereign, few mon- 
archs have swayed the English sceptre with more ability. 

From the parliament, Anne soon received the most friend* 
ly and flattering addresses. Then, with the usual solemnity, 
she went to the house of peers; and, in a speech to the 
lords and commons, expressed her satisfaction at their 
unanimous concurrence with her opinion, that too much 
could not be done to encourage the allies in humbling the 
power of France: she desired them to consider on the best 
means of procuring a legislative union with Scotland; and, 
after some other remarks, concluded, by saying, u As I 
know my own heart to be entirely English, I can very sin¬ 
cerely assure you, that there is not any thing you can ex¬ 
pect, or request from me, which I shall not be ready to do, 
for the happiness and prosperity of England; and you shall 
always find me a strict observer of my word.” 

Sharp, archbishop of York, was her director in ecclesias¬ 
tical affairs: the earl of Rochester was continued as lord 
lieutenant of Ireland: the privy seal was intrusted to the 
marquis of Normanby: the earl of Nottingham and sir 
Charles Hedges were made secretaries of state. The prince 
of Denmark was appointed generalissimo of all the forces, 
both by sea and land; assisted, as admiral, by a council 
amongst whom was sir George Rooke. Marlborough (to 
whom we shall, henceforth, give the title of duke) was des¬ 
patched to Holland, that he might animate the states to a 
vigorous effort against France; in which embassy, he com 
pletelv succeeded. With them, in conjunction with u»<« 

' Q 


17S 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Imperial minister, he arranged, that war should be declared 
against Louis, on the same day, at the Hague, Vienna, and 
London; and concerted the operations of the campaign. 

Marlborough, who makes so conspicuous a figure in his¬ 
tory, was first inured to the dangers of the field under 
the famous French marshal, Turenne; in whose army, he 
had been a volunteer. At first, more remarkable for the 
beauty of his person, than the greatness of his talents, he 
was known in the camp by the name of the handsome En¬ 
glishman ; but his master, who saw much deeper than the 
surface, perceived the superiority of his genius, and pic 
tured in his imagination the laurels which victory was pre 
paring for him. When appointed to command, Marlbo¬ 
rough deviated from the established practice of the army, 
by advancing the subaltern officers; whose claims had hith¬ 
erto been neglected. With him, title, or seniority, was no 
passport to promotion: he gave the preference to bravery 
and talent; by which means, merit was rewarded, and vic¬ 
tory secured. 

The name of Blenheim is intimately associated 
with that of Marlborough. There, the greatest bat¬ 
tle of that age was fought; and there he established his re¬ 
nown. The allied army, at the head of which were the 
duke, and prince Eugene, who commanded the Imperialists, 
amounted to fifty-thousand. The French army, command¬ 
ed by marshal Tallard, outnumbered their antagonists, by 
at least eight-thousand. Tallard chose his station on a hill; 
his right being protected by the Danube, and the village 
of Blenheim; his left, by the village of Lutzengen ; his 
front, by a rivulet, the banks of which were steep, and 
its bottom marshy. Marlborough, at the head of his Eng¬ 
lish troops, having crossed the rivulet, attacked, with im¬ 
petuosity, the cavalry of Tallard. Prince Eugene, on the 
left, had not yet come in contact; and nearly an hour 
elapsed before he could bring up his troops to the charge 
The French cavalry being totally defeated, Tallard, at this 
distressing moment, flew to rally some scpiadrons; but, hav¬ 
ing mistaken a detachment of the assailants for his own, he 
was made prisoner. In the mean time, Eugene had joined 
the battle, and assisted to increase the enemy’s confusion. 
The rout then became general. So great was the conster¬ 
nation, that numbers of the French plunged into the-Dan¬ 
ube ; and thus, in avoiding one danger, embraced another. 
»Nreive-thousand of the enemy perished by the sword and 
the waters ; and thirteen-thousand were made prisoners 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 179 

The next day, when the dyke visited his prisoner Tal- 
lard, the marshal, intending it as a compliment, assured 
him, that he had conquered the best troops in the world_ 

I hope, sir, replied the duke, “ you will except those by 
whom they have been conquered.” 

Marlborough was received in England as the champion 
of his country, and the retriever of its ancient glory. The 
parliament conferred on him the manor of Woodstock; 
where there was subsequently built for him a magnificent 
palace, called Blenheim House. 

At sea, also, the English were in general successful. But, 
on that element, so rich a harvest of military greatness was 
not gathered, as on land. They were not opposed, there, 
by the same degree of talent; nor were they equally free 
from the mortification of defeat. A lasting monument of 
their success remains, in the acquisition of Gibraltar. Be¬ 
ing at war with Spain, chiefly owing to an interference in 
the choice of her sovereign ; an interference always impoli¬ 
tic, and always unjust; an English squadron, returning from 
a fruitless expedition, under the command of sir Cloudesly 
Shovel and sir George Rooke, made an easy conquest of 
that celebrated fortress. Gibraltar was the Calpe of the an¬ 
cients, and formed, in their puerile geography, one of the 
Columnas Herculis, or pillars of Hercules. On the oppo¬ 
site coast, in Africa, is Ceuta, formerly called Abyla; dis¬ 
tant only eighteen miles. These, by the Heathens, were 
supposed to be the boundaries of the labours of Hercules; 
and, with equal fertility of imagination, were thought to 
have been joined, until that hero opened a passage from 
the Mediterranean into the Atlantic. If any station abroad 
is valuable to England, it is Gibraltar. We are, however, 
entirely opposed to such military outposts. In war, they 
are certainly useful, by giving protection to trade: but they 
are a means of producing war. Had England fewer of these 
bulwarks, she would be the less liable to conceive offence, 
and the less ready to commit violence. 

The administration was, at this time, composed of the 
two parties—whigs and tories. Of all who influenced the 
public councils, the most powerful was Marlborough, who 
was of the whig party. But he was removed from all his 
employments, by the intrigues of a female. The dutchess 
of Marlborough, who, in the most imperious way, had long 
ruled the opinions of the queen, was displaced, by the cun¬ 
ning servility of a fawning rival—a Mrs. Masham. This 
woman was related to the dutchess; had been raised, by her 



ISO 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


from indigence and obscurity, and brought to court to con 
tribute to the queen’s amusement. But this hypocritical 
dependant had a partner in her schemes. Robert Harley, 
then secretary of state, having determined to ruin the credit 
of the duke, and employed her as an instrument, she was 
successful. In his career of ambition, Harley chose for 
his coadjutor the celebrated Henry St. John : the one was 
created earl of Oxford; the other, lord Bolingbroke; who 
is much celebrated for his wit and eloquence; but, his 
strong passions led him into many acts of indiscretion 
anct folly. 

The duke of Marlborough was remarkable for his ava¬ 
rice; a blemish that is recorded in the following anecdote 
The earl of Peterborough, a general who had highly dis 
tinguished himself at the head of some British troops in 
Spain, one day driving through London, was much impeded 
by an immense crowd, who had mistaken him for the duke. 
The earl repeatedly assured them, that they were in error; 
that he Avas not Marlborough: but, they still persisted that 
he was; and were proceeding to take his horses from his 
carriage, for the purpose of drawing it themsel\ r es, when 
the earl, throwing a handful of money amongst them, ex 
claimed, “There,now,I hope I have convinced you that I 
am not the duke.” 

After more than ten years of severe hostility, Eng- 

‘ land and France seemed willing to change the deso¬ 
lating scene. Louis, that arch-disturber of the continent, 
Avas at length alarmed; and begged with a suppliant tone 
for peace. A treaty commenced at Utrecht, and on th 
fifth of May, peace was proclaimed in London; causing 
great joy to the majority of the people. The Dutch and 
the Imperialists, after complaining of the desertion of their 
ally, found their interest in acceding; the one, by the bar¬ 
rier treaty; the other, by the treaty of Radstadt. 

In the mean time, (May 1, 1707) the long projected 
Union Avith Scotland was completed. The principal terms 
of Avhich were, that the tAvo kingdoms should be represent¬ 
ed in one parliament: that all subjects of Great Britain 
should enjoy equal privileges and advantages : that the Hav 
concerning public rights and civil government should be 
vhe same throughout the united kingdoms; but, that those 
Uavs Avhich concerned private rights, should remain unalter¬ 
ed • except the alteration Avere advantageous to the people of 
Scotland : that Scotland should be represented by sixteen 
peers and forty-five commoners; and should have the liber- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 181 

ty, not before enjoyed, of trading with the British West 
India plantations. 

1 he ministerial changes produced a serious alarm amongst 
the whigs; who apprehended a design in favour of the Stu¬ 
arts.. Mr. Steele, (afterwards sir Richard Steele,) was ac 
tive in exciting the national fears. In a pamphlet, called 
the Crisis, he vehemently declaimed against the ministry, 
and spoke ol the immediate danger ol their bringing over 
the exiled prince, for this, he was expelled the house of 
commons. Steele was one of the celebrated wits of that 
time; and a large contributor to the Tatler, Spectator, and 
Guardian, of which periodical writings, he was the founder. 

The queen’s health was for some time past declining; 
and her anxiety, caused by the turbulence of faction, hast¬ 
ened her decay. She expired in the fiftieth year of her age, 
and thirteenth of her reign ; having, to the last moment in 
which she possessed her faculties, assiduously laboured for 
the future welfare of her country. The prince of Denmark 
had died about six years before, and none of their children 
survived them. 

This period was so prolific in writers of genius and ele¬ 
gance, that it has been styled the Augustan Age of Eng¬ 
land. Our language had then, and not till then, acquired 
a degree of polish, which invited the whole poetical genius 
of the nation, to celebrate the passing events of a busy age. 
The poetry, of this time, will, most probably, never be ex¬ 
celled. It seems to have attained all the strength, and all 
the beauty, of the ancient. The prose, however, even up 
to our own day, has been gradually improving. If, as a 
specimen of the latter, we take the papers of the Specta 
tor ; a work which employed the best talents of the king 
dom; we discover humour, and wit, and learning, strug¬ 
gling with the long continued dominion of grammatical 
imperfection. Few numbers of that celebrated compila¬ 
tion, are equal, in point of style, to the daily effusions of a 
common newspaper. The English language had not been 
long used in exalted subjects. In the preceding reigns, 
divinity had been almost exclusively taught, and polemical 
disputation, conducted, in the Latin tongue: philosophy 
was disseminated in the same; and thus, the native lari 
guage was allowed to remain unpolished, until the im¬ 
petuous feelings of lord Bolingbroke raised it from its 
degradation, lopped off its ungraceful and ambiguous in 
cumbrances, and gave it the majestic features, the per 
spicuous animation, of his own mind 
Q 2 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


182 

The brightest of the splendid constellation, that appear¬ 
ed then, was Pope; the most mellifluous poet that Eng¬ 
land has produced. His greatest work is the translation 
of Homer. In this, he was assisted by Fenton and Broome. 
To Fenton, were assigned, the 1st, 4th, 19th, and 20th : to 
Broome, the 2d, 6th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 18th, and 23d 
Books of the Odyssey; and so well have his associates per¬ 
formed their part, that no reader can distinguish their books 
from those of Pope. For this translation, he received, by 
contract, ten-thousand pounds. His Essay on Criticism* 
Rape of the Lock, and Dunciad,, are instructive and amus¬ 
ing.—Of an interview with a noble lord, Pope gives the 
following account. 44 The famous lord Halifax was rather 
a pretender to taste, than really possessed of it. When I 
nad finished the first two or three books of my Iliad, that 
lord desired to have the pleasure of hearing them read at 
his house. Addison, Congreve, and Garth, were at the 
reading. In four or five places, lord Halifax very civilly 
stopped me; saying, I beg yo'ur pardon, Mr. Pope—bu* 
there is something in that passage which does not quite 
please me. Be so good as to mark the place, and consider 
it at your leisure—I am sure you can give it a little turn. 
I went from his lordship’s with Dr. Garth, and mentioned 
to the doctor, that lord Halifax had laid me under a great 
deal of difficulty, by such loose and general observations 
Garth laughed heartily at my embarrassment; said, that I 
need not puzzle myself much about looking those places 
over, but, to leave them just as they were; to call on lord 
Halifax in two or three months, and read them to him, as 
if altered. I did so; and his lordship was extremely pleased 
with them; and cried out; 4 Ay, now they are perfectly 
right—nothing can he better .’ ” 

Though Swift, the celebrated Dean of St. Patrick’s, 
stands high as a satirical poet, yet his merit as a political 
writer, and a patriot, is still more exalted. His numerous 
poems are witty and correct. His prose is unaffected and 
perspicuous. As a patriot, he delivered Ireland, his native 
ountry, from plunder and oppression ; showing, that wit, 
when combined with truth, is irresistible. His Drapier’s 
Letters, written against the nefarious coinage of Wood, will 
long be admired for their argument, and respected for their 
integrity. There is, however, one objection to his writings. 
His satire is continually interwoven with indelicacy; a 
means which he used, to make impropriety the more dis 
gusting. His 44 Gulliver’s Travels” abounds with that mode 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


183 


uf portraying tne depravity of man. Swift did every thing 
in a manner peculiar to himself. A story told by Pope will 
afford a specimen of his humour:—“ Dr. Swift has an odd, 
blunt way, which is mistaken, by strangers, for ill-nature. 
*Tis so odd, that there’s no describing it but by facts. I’ll 
tell you one that first comes into my head. One evening, 
Gay and I went to see him: you know how intimately we 
were all acquainted. On our coming in, ‘ Heyday, gen¬ 
tlemen,’ says the doctor, ‘ what’s the meaning of this visit? 
How came you to leave the great lords that you are so fond 
of, to come hither to see a poor clean ?’—' 1 Because we would 
rather see you than any of them.’—■* Ay, any one that did 
not know you so well as I do, might believe you. But, 
since you are come, I must get some supper for you, I sup¬ 
pose.’—‘ No, doctor, we have supped already.’—‘Supped 
already? that’s impossible! why, ’tis not eight o’clock yet. 
—That’s very strange; but, if you had not supped, I must 
have got something for you.—Let me see; what should I 
have had ? A couple of lobsters ; ay, that would have done 
very well—two shillings—tarts, a shilling: but you will 
drink a glass of wine with me, though you supped so much 
before your usual time only to spare my pocket?’—‘ No; we 
would rather talk with you, than drink with you.’—‘ But, if 
you had supped with me, as in all reason you ought to have 
done, you must then have drank with me.—A bottle of wine, 
two shillings—two and two are four, and one are five: just 
two and six pence a piece. There, Pope; there’s half a 
crown for you; and there’s another for you,sir; for I wont 
save any thing by you, I am determined.’—This was all 
said and done with his usual seriousness on such occasions; 
and, in spite of every thing we could say to the contrary, 
he actually obliged us to take the money.” 

Addison has acquired great celebrity by his tragedy of 
Cato; but he is better known as the principal contributor 
to the Spectator; a work that every one should read : the 
subjects are literature, morality, and familiar life. In this 
reign, he was under secretary, and in the succeeding, prin 
cipal secretary, of state; an office, for which, notwithstand¬ 
ing his general talents, he was unqualified. 

To those, we have to add, Parnell, Ambrose and John 
Philips, Hughes, Tickel, Rowe, and Gay; of whom, the 
last two were the most eminent. Gay was the founder of 
the English Opera. Of this poet, we shall, by way of 
amusement, relate the following incident.—Having been 
invited to read a tragedy, called the Captives, before the 


154 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


princess of Wales, when the hour came, he saw the prin 
cess and her ladies all in expectation ; but, advancing with 
reverence, too great to admit of any other attention, he 
stumbled over a stool; and, falling forward, threw down a 
weighty Japan screen. The princess started; the ladies 
screamed; and poor Gay, after all the disturbance, had 
still to read his play.—The Drama is indebted also to Far* 
quhar and Colley Cibber, particularly the former; who* 
by such comedies as the Rivals, Inconstant, and Beaux 
Stratagem, has enrolled his name amongst the most fa 
voured votaries of Thalia. Rymer is known by the volum 
inous compilation of state-papers in his Foedera; sirHanse 
Sloane, by his works on botany and medicine; and sir 
James Thornhill, by the classical beauty of his paintings. 

We recollect, with much pleasure, the names of Berke¬ 
ley, the celebrated bishop of Cloyne, and the highly admir¬ 
ed Arbuthnot. The former studied at Dublin College, of 
which great establishment he was a fellow. His first pub¬ 
lic essays were published in the Spectator and Guardian; 
which he adorned with many papers in favour of religion 
and virtue. Amongst his other productions, are, The Prin¬ 
ciples of Human Knowledge, A New Theory of Vision, 
and Alciphron, or the Minute Philosopher. Berkeley can 
not be exhibited in a more favourable light, than by our 
relating, that when offered a benefice more productive than 
the see of Cloyne, he declined it; saying, w My neighbours 
and myself love one another, and I cannot think of forming 
new connexions in my old days, and tearing myself from 
those friends whose kindness to me is my greatest happi¬ 
ness.”—Arbuthnot, a Scotch physician, joined with Pope 
and Swift in publishing several volumes of Miscellanies; 
in which, are the well-known Memoirs of Martinus Scrib- 
lerus—an admirable satire on the abuses of human learn¬ 
ing ; and afterwards composed tables of ancient coins, 
weights, and measures, besides other works of great utility. 

An important act was now passed, to encourage learn¬ 
ing. Copy-rights were, by this, secured, for a certain pe¬ 
riod, to the respective authors; and placed beyond the 
vague issue of common-law. 

A statute of Henry the eighth had limited the interest of 
money to ten per cent.; an act of James the first, to eight: 
in the reign of Charles the second it was reduced to six; 
ind lastly, in the reign of Anne, to five per cent.; which is 
now the highest rate of interest that can legally be taken 


HISTORY OF ENGLAxND. 


185 


CHAPTER XVII. 

GEORGE THE FIRST. 

1714—1727. 

WHEN reading the historic pages of the Henrys, th 
Edwards, or the Williams—even when we reach the less 
remote period of Anne, we are accompanied by a solemn 
impression of Antiquity. Then, with a gently gliding, 
and nearly imperceptible motion, the old times seemingly 
retreat; whilst the mind diverges from the receding scene, 
until the full, animating, and lively, prospect of our own 
days, opens with increasing splendour. 

The Stuarts had now completed their period of royalty. 
A new branch of the regal family ascended the throne, in 
the order of succession provided by act of parliament. 

George was at this time in the fifty-fifth year of his age 
He was son of Ernest Augustus Guelf, first elector of 
Brunswick, and the princess Sophia, grand-daughter of 
James the first; and inherited Hanover; which, near the 
end of the preceding century, had been made the ninth 
Electorate of the Germanic Empire. 

The new king was violently prejudiced against one party, 
and attached to the other. His confidence and affection 
were wholly given to the whigs.* The duke of Ormond, 
who commanded the army, was now dismissed, and Marl¬ 
borough restored. The great seal was given to lord 
Cowper; the privy seal to the earl of Wharton; and the 
government of Ireland, to lord Sunderland. The duke of 
Devonshire was made steward of the household: lord 
Townshend and Mr. Stanhope were appointed secretaries 
of state. The duke of Somerset was constituted master 
of the horse; the duke of Argyle commander of the forces 
in Scotland ; Mr. Pultney secretary of war, and sir Robert 
Walpole, who had undertaken to manage the house of 
omraons, paymaster of the army. 

The king’s partiality soon produced dissatisfaction. • In 
different places, seditious libels were dispersed; and alarm 
ing tumults raised. Birmingham, Bristol, Chippenham, 
Norwich, and Reading, were disturbed with licentious riot. 

The conduct of the late ministry became the 

1 ' chief subject of parliamentary inquiry; and a com¬ 

mittee were appointed to examine all papers relative to 




186 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


the late negotiation for peace. When their report was 
made, an impeachment was voted against lord Bolingbroke, 
the earl of Oxford, and the duke of Ormond. Mr. Har¬ 
ley, brother of the earl, and Mr. Foley, his brother-in-law, 
defended the ministerial conduct of their relative. They 
insisted, that he had done nothing without his sovereign’s 
command: that the peace was advantageous and honoura¬ 
ble; sanctioned by the voice of one parliament, and approv¬ 
ed by another; and they asked, what security could be af¬ 
forded to a minister, against the vengeance of his enemies, 
if the sanction of a parliament, the great legislature of the 
nation, were insufficient. The measures of the duke of 
Ormond were ably advocated by Archibald Hamilton, Mr 
Hutcheson, general Lumley, and sir Joseph Jekyll. They 
enumerated the eminent services performed to the crown 
and the nation, by the duke and his illustrious ancestors: 
observed, that, in the whole of his late conduct, he had 
obeyed the queen’s directions; and that the. allegations, 
even if substantiated, did not amount to high treason. 
Bolingbroke, having observed the gathering storm, had 
early secured shelter from its most dangerous effects, by 
retiring to the continent. Ormond, fearing that it would 
burst upon him with overwhelming fury, remained not to 
try so unequal a contest. The names of those two noble¬ 
men were erased from the list of peers, and their estates 
were declared forfeited to the crown.- Oxford, after two 
years’ imprisonment in the Tower, was brought to trial; 
when, owing to a violent animosity between the two houses 
of parliament, ne was liberated without inquiry. 

1 he chevalier St. George, (by which title, the son of 
the late king j u mes was known) conceiving this a favoura¬ 
ble time for making an attempt upon the British throne, 
used every means to increase the national ferment, and ex¬ 
cite his partisans to arms. He was assisted by Ormond 
and Bolingbroke; but, his intrigues being discovered by the 
earl of Stair, the English ambassador at Paris, the king 
took effectual measures to oppose them. Another misfor¬ 
tune arose, to thwart his attempts upon the peace of Eng¬ 
land. 1 his was the death of Louis the fourteenth; who, 
contrary to the treaty of Utrecht, had espoused his cause. 
The regency having devolved upon the duke of Orleans, 
lie gave the chevalier very trifling assistance ; and amused 
Ids agents with equivocal expressions, tending rather to 
f rust''ate than to forward his design. 

But, the adherents of the chevalier had already gone so 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 187 

far, that to retreat with safety was impossible. Resolved 
thei efoi e, to try their fortune in the field, many persons ol 
*he first distinction called out their warlike clans. The earl 
of Mar, as his lieutenant-general, the marquises of Huntley 
and Tullibardine, the earls Marischal and Southesk, were 
the first in arms. Meanwhile, two vessels had arrived from 
Ha\re, with military stores, and a great number of officers; 
who gave information that the chevalier himself would very 
soon arrive. Some of his partisans attempted to surprise 
the castle of Edinburgh ; but the vigilance of colonel Stu¬ 
art, lieutenant-governor of that fortress, defeated their de- 
sign. 1 he duke of Argyle set out for Scotland, as com¬ 
mander in chief of the royal forces in that country; and 
many ol the Scottish peers returned thither to signalize 
their attachment to the existing sovereign. 

In England, the Pretender had a number of respectable 
supporters. Lords Lansdown and Duplin, sir William 
Wyndham, and sir John Packington, Messrs. Harvey, ana 
Forster, Anstes, and Kynaston, members of parliament, 
were ordered to be committed to prison, on suspicion of 
disloyalty. Forster, joined by some gentlemen from the 
borders of Scotland, proclaimed the pretender in Wark- 
worth, Morpeth, and Alnwick, in Northumberland ; and, 
being further reinforced by lords Kenmuir, Carnwath, and 
Wintoun, with two-hundred Scottish horse, the whole rest¬ 
ed at Kelso in Roxburghshire. 

The earl of Mar was now at the head of ten-thousand 
well-armed troops. Fie fixed his head quarters at Perth; 
and made himself master of all Fifeshire, and the entire 
sea-coast on that side of the Frith of Edinburgh. He then 
selected two-thousand-five-hundred men, commanded bv 
brigadier Mackintosh; who, after displaying the greatest 
courage and abilities in a series of difficult enterprises 
joined the forces at Kelso. 

When arrived at Jedburgh, one-half of the Highlanders 
declared that they would not quit their own country, and 
returned home. At Brampton, Forster opened his commis¬ 
sion of general, and then continued his march, through 
Kendal and Lancaster, to Preston; of which town, (the royal 
army having retired,) the rebels took possession. Here, 
they were attacked by general Willis, with six regiments 
of horse and one battalion of foot. But the assailants were 
driven off with considerable loss. Next day, general Car¬ 
penter arrived, with three regiments of dragoons; by which 
'reinforcement, the rebels being intimidated, the whole army 



1S8 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


surrendered at discretion. The common men were impris¬ 
oned at Chester and Liverpool; the nobility and principal 
officers were sent to London, and committed to the Tower 
and Newgate. 

The same day on which the rebels surrendered at Pres¬ 
ton, the duke of Argyle and the earl of Mar were engaged 
at Dumblain, in Scotland. There, was fought, the best con¬ 
tested battle that occurred during the whole rebellion. The 
latter nobleman, having been joined by the northern clans 
under the earl of Seaforth, and by those of the west under 
general Gordon, had resolved to pass the Forth, that he 
might join his southern friends, and march with them into 
England. Argyle, aware of his intention, determined to 
arrest his progress; and, on the 12th of November, en¬ 
camped, with his left on the village of Dumblain, and his 
right towards Sheriffmoor. The next morning, Glengary 
and Clanronald, two Scottish chieftains, who commanded 
under the earl of Mar, charged the left of the royal, army, 
sword-in-hand, with so great impetuosity, that, in seven 
minutes, both horse and foot were driven, with great 
slaughter, from the field. At the same time, the duke of 
Argyle attacked the left of the enemy, at the head of Stair’s 
and Evans’ dragoons, and drove them as far as the Water 
of Allan. After much hard lighting, both parties desisted, 
and fronted each other until the evening; when, the duke 
drew off towards Dumblain, the rebels towards Ardoch. 
T his was what is called a drawn battle : on each side were 
killed about five-hundred men. 

In another quarter, the hopes of the insurgents were 
completely ruined. Lord Lovat, having deserted their 
cause, secured the important post of Inverness for the 
government; after which, many of the pretender’s prin 
cipal adherents were constrained to retire, for the protec 
tion of their estates; and then, the clans, according to cus¬ 
tom, returned home. 

Notwithstanding this desperate situation of his affairs ; 
the account of which was confirmed on the return of the 
duke of Ormond, who had come over to reconnoitre; the 
chevalier determined to join his friends in Scotland. * Ac¬ 
companied by the marquis of Tinmouth and a few others, 
ne landed at Peterhead. Thence, having passed through 
Aberdeen, he arrived at Feterosse; where, he was met by 
the earl of Mar, and about thirty noblemen and gentlemen, 
of considerable rank. Here, he was solemnly proclaimed 
king. Having visited Dundee and Scone, he stopped at 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


189 


Perth; where he formed a regular council, issued procla¬ 
mations, and, lor a while, enjoyed all the satisfaction of con¬ 
scious royalty. But these golden days were of short con¬ 
tinuance. The duke of Argyle was now approaching. Pro¬ 
clamations on the one hand, congratulatory addresses on 
the other, and pathetic speeches in reply, were unavailing. 
Money, arms, ammunition, provisions,—even men, were 
wanting. Thus circumstanced, the chevalier abandoned the 
enterprise ; and, accompanied by the earls of Mar and Mel- 
ford, with several other persons of distinction, embarked 
at Montrose, and, in a few days, arrived at Gravelines. 

Ireland, though always branded as seditious, remained, 
throughout the whole rebellion, completely tranquil. The 
only event which then occurred in that kingdom, worthy 
of relation, in this small work, was the precautionary or¬ 
der for apprehending lords Antrim, Westmeath, Netter- 
ville, Cahir, and Dillon. 

Stuart’s departure had given the signal for hostilities in 
the field to cease. In a few days afterwards, impeachments 
and attainders were voted against his principal friends. Sen¬ 
tence of death was passed on lords Derwentwater, Ken- 
muir, Carnwath, Nairn, Widdington, and Nithsdale. The 
first two were immediately beheaded : the next three were 
•’espited until the following month; and, ultimately, par 
jioned. Lord Nithsdale escaped in a female dress, which 
nad been brought to him by his mother. Forster, Mackin¬ 
tosh, and several others, broke out of Newgate. Many were 
hanged in London, Preston, and Manchester; and about 
one-thousand were obliged to settle in America. 

It should be carefully remembered, that, in this rebel¬ 
lion, persons of various religions were engaged—members 
of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, and 
the Church of Rome. 

As the present parliament was now drawing towards a 
conclusion, and it was thought dangerous to hazard a gen¬ 
eral election, whilst the minds of the people were in so great 
a ferment, a bill was passed for discontinuing triennial par¬ 
liaments, (which term had subsisted ever since the sixth 
year of William and Mary,) and establishing septennial. 

The civil war had scarcely terminated, when a formida 
hie enemy was created on the continent. This was the cele 
brated Charles the twelfth, of Sweden; a man equally re¬ 
markable for the splendour, and the madness, of his ex¬ 
ploits. The king, as elector of Hanover, having purchased, 
from the opponents of that prince, the dutchies of Bremen 
R 


190 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


and Verden, which had constituted a part of the Swedish 
dominions, Charles determined to have revenge; and en 
tered into a treaty with the chevalier St. George, to assist 
him in another attempt upon the English throne. In con¬ 
sequence, the king went over to the continent; where he 
remained a short time, that he might secure his Hanoverian 
dominions. In the following year, the Swedish monarch was 
killed in the trenches before Frederickshall, in Norway; 
removing, by his death, the apprehensions of invasion. 

But England seems to live only amidst the noise 
of arms. She soon hastily embraced, what, a mo¬ 
ment before, she had so cautiously avoided. The king, hav¬ 
ing been appointed by Philip of Spain an arbitrator in a dis¬ 
pute with the emperor of Germany, made a decision unpleas¬ 
ing to the former; who, consequently, refused compliance. 
This produced a war between England and Spain. Admiral 
Byng was despatched to the Mediterranean, with twenty- 
two ships of the line. Having performed the most signai 
service, by relieving the Neapolitans and Sicilians, then 
threatened by the Spaniards, the British admiral, after a 
long chase, engaged the enemy’s fleet, superior in number, 
off Cape Passaro ; and, in a well contested action, captured 
them all, except six or eight ships. For this achievement, 
Byng was honoured with a letter of approbation from the 
king, written with his own hand; and, for his further ser¬ 
vices, ennobled, by the title of viscount Torrington. 

I he duke of Ormond having gone to Madrid, measures 
were there concerted for exciting another insurrection in 
Great Britain. • These plans, however, being made known 
to the English government, by the regent of France, every 
ore caution was taken to repel the danger. The duke sailed 
from Cadiz with six-thousand troops, and arms for twelve 
thousand more; but, when off Cape Finisterre, his fleet 
was disabled and dispersed by a storm. Only two frigates 
arrived in Scotland; with the earls Marischal and Sea- 
forth, the marquis of Tullibardine, some field officers, three- 
hundred Spaniards, and arms for two-thousand men. Being 
joined by a small body of Highlanders, they tobk posses- 
sion ol Donan Castle. General Wightman marched against 
them ; and, after driving them before him for some time, 
made piisoners of all the Spaniards; the Highlanders hav¬ 
ing previously dispersed Marischal, Seaforlh, and Tulli¬ 
bardine, retired to one of the Western Isles; and thus 
ended the expedition. 


191 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

1722. Information was now received from the duke of 
Orleans, of a fresh conspiracy. A camp was im¬ 
mediately formed in Hyde Park : all military officers were 
ordered to join their regiments ; and the court was removed 
to Kensington. Many persons of distinction were commit¬ 
ted to the Tower, on charges of high treason ; amongst 
whom, was Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, who was, by 
an act of parliament, deprived of all his offices and digni 
lies, banished from the realm, and subjected to the penalty 
ol death, in case he should return. The other prisoners 
w ere liberated on bail. A pardon Avas afterwards granted 
to lord Bolingbroke; who, as we have already mentioned, 
had been impeached, in the beginning of this reign. 

1704 This year was distinguished by a remarkable in- 

1 ’ cident—the trial of the earl of Macclesfield, lord 

chancellor of England. It Avas reported to the house of 
commons, that the chancellor had embezzled the estates 
of many widows, orphans, and lunatics : that he had raised 
to an exorbitant sum, the price of situations of masters in 
chancery ; trusting in their hands large sums of money 
belonging to suitors, that those officers might be enabled 
to comply with his demands; and that he had made, in 
several cases, irregular orders. He was accordingly im¬ 
peached at the bar of the upper house. The trial lasted 
twenty days, and ended in his conviction; by which hf 
was fined thirty-thousand pounds.—How honourable to the 
laws—how disgraceful to the judge 1 

U2J The king, having appointed a regency, left England 
* to visit his Hanoverian dominions. But, on his journey, 
he Avas seized Avith a paralytic disorder, and conveyed, in a 
state of insensibility, to Osnaburgh; where he expired, in the 
sixty-eighth year of his age, and thirteenth of his reign. In 
his person and address, he Avas plain and unaffected: in his 
general deportment, grave and composed; though, Avhcn re¬ 
moved from the cares of business, easy, facetious, and familiar. 

This reign is remarkable for stock-jobbing projects; and 
particularly for the South-Sea speculation; which involved its 
numerous victims in ruin, and its managers in well merited 
punishment and infamy. 

In 1722, died the great duke of Marlborough ; the only 
general, either of ancient or modern times, except the duke 
of Wellington, of Avhom it can be said, that he never fought a 
battle that he did not gain, nor ever besieged a toAvn that ne 
did not take. 

In the year 1723, the decorations of St. Paul’s earnediai 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


192 

in London were completed. This is the most magnificent, 
protestant church in the world; and one of the finest struc 
tures that any age has produced. It is said to have been 
originally founded by Ethelbert, a Saxon prince, on the site 
of a temple which the Romans had dedicated to Diana. 1 he 
old building was destroyed in the great fire of 1666. The 
first stone of the present structure was laid by sir Christo¬ 
pher Wren, in 1675. It is built of fine Portland stone, after 
the model of St. Peter’s at Rome. Its length from east to 
, west is five-hundred feet; its breadth, three-hundred-and- 
eleven, including the porticos; its height, from the ground 
to the top of the cross, three-hundred-and-forty-four feet; 
occupying an area of six acres. The expense of building 
amounted to more than seven-hundred-thousand pounds. 

In 1716, John Lombe, erected a silk mill at Derby; the 
first established in England. The building in which his 
machinery, copied from the Italian models, was placed, is 
still used by the original manufacture. About the same 
time, the astronomical instrument, called the Orrery, was 
invented, by George Graham, of London; and lady Mary 
Wortley Montague introduced, from Constantinople, the 
practice of inoculation for the small-pox.—The Royal Bank 
at Edinburgh received its charter in the last year bf this 
reign; being the second public money establishment in 
the country of which that city is the capital. The first, 
called the Bank of Scotland, was instituted in the reign of 
William and Mary. 

The poets who began, at this time, to attract public at¬ 
tention, were, Watts, Thomson, and Savage. Doctor Watts 
was a dissenting minister, and amongst the first who gave 
the presbyterians a taste for the graces of language, in 
the service of their church: he showed them, that zeal 
and purity might be expressed and enforced in a polished 
composition. His version of the psalms of David, is very 
generally adopted. As a logician, he was particularly emi 
nent. His system of logic has been received into the uni¬ 
versities. Every one must look back with veneration on 
this truly useful and charitable man. He laid aside the 
scholar, the philosopher, and the wit, to write little poems 
of devotion and systems of instruction for children ; adapt¬ 
ed co their wants and capacities, from the earliest dawn of 
reason to the first approaches of maturity; and, during a 
great part of his life, gave to the poor a third part of his 
annual revenue, though it did not exceed one-hundred 
pounds Thomson may be rated amongst the highest 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 193 

•lass of poetical writers. His Seasons, the most admired 
of all his performances, display some of the sweetest pas 
sages that any poet has produced. An account of the life 
and writings of Savage, will be found in Johnson’s Lives 
of the Poets. He was equally remarkable for his genius 
and misfortunes ; which his biographer has recorded with 
much effect and elegance. The life of Savage is almost 
the only one that Johnson has given with impartiality; 
and is written with more perspicuity, and less affectation, 
than any other in his collection. 

Nathaniel Hooke had an extensive knowledge of foreign 
languages, and wrote an admired history of Rome. De 
Foe was equally ingenious either in politics, or in commer¬ 
cial economy; and was a strenuous advocate of the peo¬ 
ple’s rights : but, he is best known as the author of Robin 
son Crusoe; the most fascinating romance that has ever 
appeared; and not more conducive to entertainment, than 
to the interest of morality. He has been accused of deal- 
ng unfairly with Alexander Selkirk, upon whose adven¬ 
tures the work is founded : but the charge seems to have 
been framed by his political enemies ; as Selkirk printed 
his own narrative, many years before the appearance of 
the imaginary Crusoe. 

GEORGE THE SECOND. 

1727—1760 

George the second, only son of the late king, ascended 
the throne in the forty-fourth year of his age. At this pe¬ 
riod, lord Townshend was minister of foreign affairs, and 
the interior government was conducted chiefly by sir Robert 
Walpole ; a man who had raised himself to this high 
situation by his eloquence, and his talent for political in 
trigue. Lord Torrington was placed at the head of the 
admiralty. Philip Dormer Stanhope, earl of Chesterfield, 
was nominated ambassador to the Hague. 

The national debt of Great Britain was more than fifty- 
two millions ; an alarming sum, when compared with her 
cotemporary finances. The ministers, as at present, boast¬ 
ed of their sinking fund, as a powerful means of reducing 
the debt: but, as yet, this far-famed invention has been in¬ 
effective. Theory is overthrown by fact. Arithmetical 
calculation seems as much opposed to this method of re¬ 
duction, as mathematical demonstration is to the attempts 
R 2 


194 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


at producing perpetual motion by the unaided agency of 
mechanical power. 

The system of corrupting the members of parliament, 
was carried to a most shameful height. The immoral cus¬ 
tom of voting large sums, under the name of secret ser¬ 
vice money, had placed an engine of corruption in the hands 
of the administration ; and patriotism was, by that means, 
nearly extinguished. The most eminent opposers of the 
ministry, at this period, were, sir William Wyndham, Mr. 
Shippen, and Mr. William Pulteney. But their industry 
and eloquence were unsuccessful. The treasury was still 
more eloquent. Subsidies were liberally given to conti¬ 
nental powers; and treaties concluded, entirely uninter¬ 
esting to Great Britain. 

Lord Carteret, who had governed Ireland with 
much propriety, returned to England ; being suc¬ 
ceeded in his office by the duke of Dorset. The parliament 
of that country had lately paid much attention to the in¬ 
terest of agriculture, manufactures, and trade. 

In the following year, seven Indian chiefs, of the Chero¬ 
kee nation, were brought to England, by sir Alexander 
Cumin. We may naturally imagine the feelings of these 
rude people, from the novelty of all around them. Being 
introduced to the king, they laid their regalia at his feet; 
and, by a regular deed, acknowledged themselves subject 
to his dominion, in the name of all their compatriots, by 
whom they had been commissioned. They were amazed 
at the splendour of the court. They compared the king 
and queen to the sun and moon ; the princes, to the stars 
of heaven, and themselves to nothing. After finishing a 
treaty of friendship and commerce, these interesting visiters 
were loaded with presents, and conveyed to their own 
country. 

We pass over the detail of many violent debates in par 
liament, on finances, provision for the royal family, and il¬ 
legal practices of the court to insure a majority. The op¬ 
position had now acquired considerable strength. They 
combated, with assiduity and manly eloquence, everv at¬ 
tempt upon the liberties of the people. A motion made 
by Mr. Bromley, for repealing the septennial act, and for 
the more frequent calling of parliaments, elicited the tal 
ents of both parties beyond any other question in this reign 

On that subject, sir William Wyndham delivered a 
speech, plainly referring to sir Robert Walpole and the 
reigning sovereign, which snowed him to be the unrivalled 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 195 

orator, and the unshaken patriot.—Let us suppose,” said 
he, in the conclusion, “ a man destitute of all sense of vir¬ 
tue and honour; oi no great family; of mean fortune; raised 
to be chief minister ot state by the concurrence of many 
whimsical events; afraid, or unwilling, to trust any but 
creatures of his own. making; lost to every feeling of sham 
or reputation; ignorant of his country’s true interest; pur 
suing no aim but that of aggrandizing himself and his fa 
vo unites; in foreign affairs, trusting none, but those, who 
Ironi the bent of their education, cannot possibly be quali¬ 
fied for the service of their country.—Let us suppose the 
ti ue interest of the nation, by such means, neglected or 
misunderstood; her honour tarnished; her importance lost; 
her trade insulted; her merchants plundered ; her sailors 
murdered ; and all these circumstances overlooked, lest his 
administration should be endangered. Suppose, next, that 
he is possessed of immense wealth, the plunder of the na¬ 
tion, with a parliament composed chiefly of men whose 
seats are purchased, and whose votes are bought, at the ex¬ 
pense of the public treasure. In such a parliament, sup¬ 
pose that all attempts made to inquire into his conduct, or 
to relieve the nation from the distress which has been en¬ 
tailed upon it, by his administration, are fruitless. Sup¬ 
pose him screened by a corrupted majority of his creatures; 
whom he retains in daily pay, or engages in his interest, by 
distributing amongst them those posts and places which 
ought never to be given to any but for the good of the pub¬ 
lic. Let us suppose him domineering, with insolence, over 
all the men of ancient families; over all the men of sense, 
figure, or fortune, in the nation ; as he has no virtue of his 
own, ridiculing it in others, and endeavouring to destroy or 
corrupt it, in all. With such a minister, and such a par¬ 
liament, let us suppose a case, which I hope will never hap¬ 
pen—a prince upon the throne, uninformed, ignorant, and 
unacquainted with the true interest of his people—weak, 
capricious, transported with unbounded ambition, and pos¬ 
sessed of insatiable avarice. I hope that such a case will 
never occur; but, as it possibly may, could any greater evil 
happen to a nation, than such a prince on the throne—ad¬ 
vised, and solely advised, by such a minister, and that min¬ 
ister supported by such a parliament ?—The nature of man¬ 
kind cannot be altered, by human laws: the existence of 
such a prince, or such a minister, we cannot prevent, by 
act of parliament—but, the existence of such a parliament, 

I think we may prevent; and as it is more likely to exist 


196 


HISTORY OH ENGLAND. 


while the septennial law remains in force, than if it were 
repealed, 1 am, therefore, heartily, for its being repealed/* 

But., notwithstanding the nervous arguments in favour 
of the motion, the advocates of liberty were overthrown 
by a ministerial majority. 

In the house of lords, the minority were not less vigilan 
in detecting, and resolute in opposing, every measure inju 
l’ious to their country. The most remarkable object of 
their attention, at this time, was a petition presented by the 
duke of Bedford, subscribed by the dukes of Hamilton, 
Queensbury, and Montrose, the earls of Dundonald, March 
mont, and Stair, complaining, that improper influence had 
been used in the election of the sixteen peers returned to 
parliament, for Scotland. The partisans of the ministry 
would willingly have stifled the inquiry in the beginning; 
but it was so strongly supported by the earls of Chester¬ 
field, Abingdon, and Strafford, the lords Bathurst and 
Carteret, that they could not so soon dismiss it, with any 
regard to decorum. The petitioners stated, that a list of 
the sixteen peers, called the king’s list, had been made, 
previous to the election, by persons in high trust under the 
crown: that votes were procured for their favourites, by 
pensions, offices, and money; and that, on the day of elec¬ 
tion, his majesty’s troops were drawn up, contrary to cus¬ 
tom, in the Abbey-court of Edinburgh, without any appar¬ 
ent cause, but that of overawing the electors.—Authentic 
documents, taken from the journal of the election, were 
then produced; which fully supported the allegations of 
the petition. But all these proofs, though supported by 
the charms and energy of eloquence, were exhibited in 
vain; and a motion was carried for adjourning. 

1736 » In y eai b ^ rea t Britain was deprived of one 
‘ of her greatest ornaments—lord Chancellor Talbot; 
who, by his probity and professional acquirements, had 
given additional dignity to his exalted situation. He was 
succeeded in his office by lord Hardwick. 

1739 ? win S to a disgraceful treaty with Spain, in 
* which the national dignity had been sacrificed, by 
its not expressly providing that British ships, when trading 
from one Englisn colony to another, should not be search¬ 
ed oy the Spaniards; that country paid little regard to its 
fulfilment; and her dereliction was succeeded by a war. 
They now claimed the right of searching all British ves¬ 
sels in the American seas, without exception. Admiral 
Vernon was despatched to attack the town of Porto Bello 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


197 

on the isthmus of Darien; which place he easily reduced 
and then demolished all its fortifications. But lie was not 
174i so fortunate in his subsequent operations. Being 
’ joined at Jamaica by a large reinforcement, under 
sir C. Ogle, his fleet now amounted to nearly sixty sail; 
one-half of which were of the line. With about twelve 
thousand land-troops, under general Wentworth, he sailed 
with the intention of reducing Havana, in the island of 
Cuba; but, changing his destination, he proceeded to the 
attack of Cai thagena. The attempt, however, proved abor¬ 
tive. Owing to the want of co-operation between the sea 
and the land forces, in which the admiral was in fault, the 
troops were re-embarked ; after suffering incredible hard¬ 
ships, both from the fire of the enemy, and sickness: and, 
in the end, only a tenth part of their number returned to 
En gland. 

Commodore Anson had been sent with a small squadron 
to annoy the enemy in the South Sea. This enterprising 
officer returned, after an absence of three years and nine 
months; having made considerable prizes, and circumnavi¬ 
gated the globe. His voyage, the particulars of which 
were published, has been much celebrated ; and his con¬ 
duct procured him advancement to the peerage. His fleet 
being shattered by dreadful severity of weather, he took 
shelter at the island of Juan Fernandez, off the coast of 
Chili; a place famous for having given rise to the story of 
Robinson Crusoe. The following interesting observation 
is extracted from his voyage.— u Former writers have re¬ 
lated, that this island abounded with vast numbers of goats ; 
and their accounts are not to be questioned ; this place hav¬ 
ing been the usual haunt of the buccaniers and privateers 
that formerly frequented these seas. And there are two 
instances, one of a Musquito Indian, the other of Alexan¬ 
der Selkirk, a Scotchman, who were left there by their re 
spective ships, and lived alone upon the island for some 
years; consequently, were no strangers to its productions. 
Selkirk, wno was the last, after a stay of four or five years, 
was taken off' the place by the Duke and Dutchess priva- 
eers of Bristol. His manner of life, in most particulars, 
was very remarkable ; and there is one circumstance he re¬ 
lates, so fully verified by our own observation, that I can¬ 
not avoid reciting it. He tells us, amongst other things 
that he often caught more goats than he wanted; some¬ 
times marked their cars and let them go. This was about 
‘hi y-two years before our arrival at the island. Now, it 


198 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


happened, that the first we killed there, had his ears slit, 
from which, we concluded that he had been formerly under 
the power of Selkirk. This was indeed an animal of most 
venerable aspect; dignified with an exceedingly majestic 
beard, and with many other symptoms of antiquity. Dur¬ 
ing our stay, we met with others, marked in the same man¬ 
ner; all the males being distinguished by an exuberance of 
beard, and every other characteristic of extreme age/ 

The continent of Europe was now afflicted with mos 
sanguinary contests; arising from a disputed claim to the 
imperial throne, and the conquest of Silesia by the Prus¬ 
sians. This is the period in which Frederick the Great, 
king of Prussia, appeared so conspicuous, as an indefatiga¬ 
ble soldier and a wise politician. His Memoirs of the Seven 
Years War are highly interesting. In these contests, the 
king of England found an opportunity of engaging, as elect¬ 
or of Hanover; assisted by British and Hanoverian troops, 
in conjunction with a body of Dutch and other auxiliaries. 
A great battle ensued at the village of Dettingen. The al¬ 
lies, amounting to forty-thousand, were commanded by the 
earl of Stair : the French, by whom they were opposed, in 
number thirty-thousand, were under the duke de Gram- 
mont. The engagement was sustained, on both sides, with 
distinguished bravery, and ended in the defeat of the enemy, 
with considerable loss. George himself, and his second 
son, the duke of Cumberland, were in this action, and ex¬ 
posed themselves in the very hottest of the fight. 

Meanwhile, the councils of the nation were most violent¬ 
ly disturbed. A powerful party being formed against the ad¬ 
ministration, Walpole and his adherents seemed tottering 
on their seats. Mr. Sandys informed him, that, in two days, 
he intended to bring a charge against him, in public. Sir 
Robert received the intimation with great indifference, and 
quoted the following, as a passage of Horace: 

Nil conscire sibi , nulli pallescere culpas. 

(To be conscious of no guilt, to turn pale at no charge.) 
Mr. Pulteney who sat on the same bench with him, said, 
that that was false Latin. Sir Robert wagered a guinea, 
that it was not; a copy of Horace being produced, and the 
words ol the author appearing to be, 

Nil conscire sibi , nulla pallescere culpa. 

Mr. Pulteney took the guinea, and, holding it up, said, 
with a sneer, that it was the only guinea of the public 
money, he had received for many years.—But these dissen 
tions were suddenly suspended. From the general dissatis- 


109 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

faction in Great Britain, the French were persuaded that 
the people were ready for revolt; and the court of Ver- 
sa! les having been informed, that if the chevalier St. George, 
or lus eldest son, Charles, would appear in that country,'at 
the head ot a French army, a revolution would immediately 
lollow m his lavour; measures were accordingly concerted 
by the minister, cardinal de Tencin, with the former; who 
then resided at Rome. The chevalier, being far advanced 
in years, delegated his authority to his son. Young Charles 
having arrived in Paris, preparations went vigorously for¬ 
ward for the intended invasion. In order to protect the land¬ 
ing ot the troops, M. de Roquefeuille sailed from Brest, 
with twenty vessels ol the line; directing his course up the 
English Channel: but, on the approach of admiral Norris, 
he quickly returned into port. Thus, England, for the pres¬ 
ent, was saved from the horrors of civil war. 

Notwithstanding the battle of Dettingen,* and this at¬ 
tempted invasion, 1* ranee and England were nominally at 
peace. A British minister was still at Paris. War, how¬ 
ever, was soon formally proclaimed. The French king, Louis 
XV, having resolved to humble the house of Austria, by 
making a conquest of the Netherlands, sent thither an im¬ 
mense army,commanded by count Saxe; and Louis himself, 
accompanied by the Dauphin, having arrived in the camp, 
they invested the town of Tournay. The duke of Cumber¬ 
land, at the head ot the combined troops, marched to its 
relief; and came in sight of the enemy near Fontenov; 
where a dreadful battle ensued. The English and Hano¬ 
verians fought with determined bravery; but, being unsup¬ 
ported by the Dutch, they were, in the end, defeated. 

During these events, the administration had undergone 
an important revolution. Sir Robert Walpole, having been 
gradually losing his influence in parliament, was at length 
overpowered by a decided majority. The next day, both 
houses were for a short time adjourned: in the interim, he 
was created earl of Orford, and, after being prime minister 
for twenty years, resigned all his employments. Many of 
the country party came into power. Mr. Sandys was made 
chancellor of the exchequer; lord Carteret, secretary of 
state; Mr. Pulteney was admitted into the privy council, 
and created earl of Bath ; and the earl of Stair, appointed 
field marshal of all his majesty’s forces. But this was a 
change only of men—not of measures. Several of those 
who had declaimed the most loudly against the court, now 
as loudly opposed an inquiry into the past corruptions 


200 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Amongst these, were lords Carteret, Bathurst, the new carl 
of Bath, and Mr. Sandys. Amongst the firm adherents of 
the people, were, the duke of Bedford, the earls ot Stan 
hope, Sandwich, and Chesterfield. 1 he latter nobleman 
was, afterwards, lord lieutenant of Ireland ; and, principal 
secretary of state. During his short government, his 
urbanity and mildness gained the affections of the Irish 
people, and he contributed highly to the improvement of 
the Phoenix Park. He was distinguished for his wit, elo¬ 
quence, and polished manners, and for his extraordinary 
address in negotiation: but he merits a severe reproach, 
for having recommended his diplomatic system of flattery 
and dissimulation, to aspiring youth ; from their first intro 
duction to the drawingroom, to their last stage of national 
advancement. Man is, by nature, or by gradual contami¬ 
nation, already too apt to become a time-serving sycophant, 
and needs not the eloquence of Chesterfield to urge him 
on his march to dishonourable attainments. 

We are now approaching the most prominent 
1 ? 45, event of this reign. Though more than half a cen¬ 
tury had passed since the house of Stuart forfeited the 
throne, yet the hope of regaining it was not extinct. Young 
Charles determined to make another effort. The majority 
of his friends, however, sent a messenger, advising, that, as 
he could not then expect the necessary aid from France, 
his enterprise might end in the ruin of himself and his ad¬ 
herents. But this advice did not arrive in time to prevent 
his embarkation. Being furnished with some money and 
arms, on his private credit, he set sail, on board a small 
frigate, from Port St. Nazaire; accompanied by the mar¬ 
quis of Tullibardine. sir Thomas Sheridan, sir John Mac 
Donald, with a few other Irish and Scotch friends; and was 
joined off Belleisle by the Elizabeth, a French ship of sixty- 
six guns, as a convoy. Having fallen in with the Lion, 
an English ship of the line, there ensued an obstinate and 
sanguinary action. The Elizabeth was so disabled, that she 
with difficulty arrived at Brest; and the Lion was render¬ 
ed almost a wreck. The return of the Elizabeth deprived 
Charles of a large quantity of arms, and a number of ex¬ 
perienced officers; but, he at length arrived at Borrodale, 
where he was in a short lime joined by a considerable num¬ 
ber of hardy mountaineers, under their respective leaders. 

On the 19 th of August, the marquis of Tullibardine 
erected the pretender’s standard at Glensinnan. Charles, 
himself, having assembled about twelve-hundred men, en- 


HISTORY OT ENGLAND 201 

camped near Fort William, situated on Loch Eil, in In 
vernesshire. Hostilities immediately began. In another 
quarter, major Donald Mac Donald, at the head of a smah 
party of Keppoch’s clan, encountered two companies of 
newly-raised royalists; whom he easily disarmed. Charles 
was afterwards joined by the duke of Perth, the earls of 
Kilmarnock and Cromartie, and viscount Sti athallan; lords 
Nairn, George Murray, Elcho, Balmerino, and Ogilvie; 
Pitsligo, Lewis Gordon, and John Drummond. The gov¬ 
ernment, which, for some time, had doubted the truth of 
Stuart’s landing, was now effectually alarmed. A proclama¬ 
tion was soon issued, offering a reward of thirty-thousand 
pounds for his person ; whilst he, in another proclamation, 
set the same price upon the head of the “ elector of Han¬ 
over.” The Highlanders marched to Perth ; where the 
chevalier St. George was proclaimed king of Great Britain ; 
and, on the 17th ot September, Charles entered Edinburgh, 
and took possession of the royal palace of Ilolyrood House. 

1 hree-thousand of the king’s troops, commanded by sir 
John Cope, were now approaching. On the 20th of the 
month, they encamped near Preston Pans. Early next 
morning, the young pretender, with an inferior number of 
half-armed Highlanders, attacked them, with so great im¬ 
petuosity, that, in a few minutes, the royalists were totally 
beaten, with the loss of their colours, tents, baggage, and 
military chest. Five-hundred of the king’s troops were 
killed on the field of battle. Amongst these, was colonel 
Gardiner; who, when abandoned by his own regiment of 
dragoons, disdaining to save his life at the expense of hon¬ 
our, joined the infantry, and combated on foot, until, cover¬ 
ed with wounds, he fell, in view of his own door, bravely 
fighting to the last. 

After the engagement, the victor returned to Edinburgh 
Whilst he resided there, some of the presbyterian clergv 
continued to preach in the churches cf that city, and, with¬ 
out meeting any interruption, publicly prayed for king 
George. A minister, named Mac Vicar, having been so¬ 
licited by some Highlanders to pray for their prince, promis¬ 
ed to comply, and performed his promise in these words: 
“And, as for the young prince, who has come hither in 
search of an earthly crown —grant, O Lord, that he may 
speedily receive a crown of glory .” 

Young Stuart had gained possession of nearly all Scot¬ 
land : the number of his followers daily increased, and ne re¬ 
ceived considerable supplies of money, artillery, and ammu- 
S 


202 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


nition, from France. At length, having collected about five- 
thousand men, he resolved to make an irruption into Eng¬ 
land. He entered by the west border: invested Carlisle 
which in a few days surrendered ; and, leaving a small gar¬ 
rison in the castle, advanced to Penrith ; marching, on loot 
in the Highland dress.* Thence, he proceeded, through 
Lancaster and Preston, to Manchester; where,on the 29th 
of November, he established his head quarters. Here, he 
was joined by a small regiment under the command of col¬ 
onel Townley; and, apparently, was received with affection¬ 
ate regard. Leaving Manchester, he forded the Mersey at 
Stockport, at the head of his troops; passed through Mac¬ 
clesfield and Congleton, and entered Derby; which is within 
one-hundred-and-twenty miles of London.— In the mean 
time, general Wade, with a body of the royal forces, ling¬ 
ered in Yorkshire; and the duke of Cumberland, with 
another army, was posted near Lichfield. The capital was 
now a scene of terror and suspense: but this alarm quickly 
subsided. Stuart was not supported in England as he had 
expected. In a council of war, which he called at Derby, his 
proposal, that his army should proceed to London, was re¬ 
jected : it was determined to return into Scotland without 
delay; and, on the sixth of December, he commenced his 
retreat. He was overtaken, at Clifton, by two regiments of 
dragoons ; whom he repulsed with great slaughter : on the 
19th he reached Carlisle; and, having reinforced the gar¬ 
rison, he crossed the rivers Eden and Solway, into Scot- 
land ; after accomplishing one of the most surprising re¬ 
treats that history records. 

By this time, a considerable body of troops were 
assembled in Scotland, under the command of gen¬ 
eral Hawley. On the 14th of January, his army w r as at 
Falkirk ; whilst the rebels were stationed at Bannockburn. 
On the 17th, the pretender made a furious attack on the 

* No infantry in the world have so lively, and so martial an appear¬ 
ance, as the Highlanders of Scotland. Their present full dress con¬ 
sistsin a bonnet, with a broad tartan edge, and a profusion of black 
ostrich feathers : a scarlet jacket, a plaid thrown over the shoulder, 
in the manner of a scarf: a tartan kilt, which reaches to within a few 
inches of the knee, of the same form as the ancient Roman; having a 
handsome poucli in front: tartan stockings, which ascend only to the 
calf of the leg; their shoes being fastened with brass buckles. For¬ 
merly, they wore a dirk and a tremendous broadsword; and, when 
rushing to the charge, threw away the musket, and attacked sword 
in hand. Their officers still retain the dirk and basket-hilled sword, 
with all their other ancient appendages; and, in this dress, appear not 
only in the field, but at the royal court. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 203 

royal forces; drove them off the field, and captured the 
greater part of their tents and artillery. 

On the 16th of April, the duke of Cumberland advanced 
to attack the rebels; who, headed by their young prince, 
were stationed on Culloden Muir. Their number was only 
about four-thousand; and they were greatly confused and 
disheartened, by an unsuccessful attempt, made by them a 
few days before, on the quarters of the duke. The royal 
army was much more numerous, and in excellent order.— 
About one o’clock in the afternoon, the cannonading began 
1 he artillery of the rebels was ill-served, and did little ex¬ 
ecution ; but that of the king’s troops made dreadful havock. 
After a vigorous resistance, the rebels were defeated. The 
French picquets covered their retreat by a close and 
regular fire; and then retired to Inverness, where they 
surrendered. T welve-hundred of the rebels were killed or 
wounded ; and the victorious soldiers exercised around the 
country the usual barbarities of civil war. 

1 he vanquished invader rode off the field with a few 
friends, crossed the Nairn, and retired to the house of a 
gentleman in Strattharick; where he conferred with old lord 
Lovat. Then, having dismissed his followers, he wandered, 
in wretchedness and solitude, amongst the isles and moun¬ 
tains, for the space of five months; in which time, he un¬ 
derwent a scries of misery and dangers, such as it is scarce¬ 
ly credible that a human being could withstand. He was 
surrounded by armed troops, who chased him from hill to 
hill, from rock to cavern, and from shore to shore. For 
some days, he appeared in female dress. One day, he was 
in the very centre of a party of the royal troops, whom he 
heard relieving the guard, and conversing. Here, a young 
man, permitting himself to pass for Charles, and refusing 
to surrender, was killed on the spot. This contributed 
greatly to save the life of the pretender, who, being sup¬ 
posed dead, afterwards travelled by several camps, and 
even passed between their sentinels. He was obliged to 
trust his life to the fidelity of more than fifty individuals; 
and, though many of these were in the greatest indigence, 
tney all nobly resisted the allurement of reward. 

At length, a privateer, hired by Sheridan and other Irish 
adherents, arrived in Lochnannoch; on board of which the 
unfortunate young prince embarked, on the 20th day of 
September; and, after passing unseen, during a thick log, 
through a British squadron, and being chased by two ships 
«f war, he arrived safely near Morlaix, in France 


204 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


The victory at Culloden had extinguished the rebellion, 
An act of attainder was now passed against the princi¬ 
pal insurgents: courts were opened in different places for 
trying the prisoners, and many persons were executed; 
amongst whom, were, the lords Kilmarnock, Lovat, and 
Balmerino. 

The behaviour of lord Lovat, on the scaffold, w r as re¬ 
markably cheerful, and even facetious. He surveyed the 
crowd with attention, examined the axe, jested with the 
executioner; and, after repeating, though with very little 
propriety, the famous line of Horace, Dulce et decorum est 
pro patria mori , (it is pleasant and honourable to die for 
one’s country,) he laid his head upon the block, with the 
utmost indifference. 

The naval operations, for some time past, were very fa¬ 
vourable to Great Britain. But they were more advantage¬ 
ous than glorious. In almost every engagement, she had a 
superiority of force. The sea officers, recently the most 
distinguished, were, Anson, Warren, Hawke, and Bos- 
cawen. Their victories, which had nearly annihilated the 
French navy, and destroyed their commerce; the sailing 
of Boscawen against the French settlements in the East 
Indies, added to some military disappointments suffered by 
Louis; induced this monarch to think seriously of peace. 
Plenipotentiaries from the contending powers as¬ 
sembled at Aix-la-Chapelle; and, in the month of 
October, a definitive treaty was signed, and hostilities 
ceased in all quarters. 

Notice was given to the young pretender, that, in conse¬ 
quence of an article in this treaty, he must immediately 
quit France; but, as he refused to comply with this order 
and even threatened to shoot the first person that would 
presume to arrest him, he was, one evening, when stepping 
out of his coach at the opera-house, in Paris, seized bv a 
party of French guards; who, having tied him with a 
cord, like a common felon, conducted him beyond the fron¬ 
tiers of the kingdom. 

The few years of peace which followed, were the most 
prosperous and happy that Europe had ever known. Arts 
and letters were successfully cultivated: manufactures were 
improved, and commerce extended: the inte; course ol 
mankind was rendered more frequent and easy by means 
of new roads and newly invented carriages. This was 
particularly the case in France and England, and between 
the people of these, two rival kingdoms. Forgetting their 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 205 

past animosities, they seemed to contend only for pre¬ 
eminence in refinement and mutual civility. } P 
But that harmony was soon interrupted. With monarchy 

Ince A'r 1 * 55 - ^ Pe ,° P ! e iS *’ in ^neral, of anall import¬ 

'll , 1 * - A lmmal ambition is, too frequently, the sprint? of 
a their actions. When Louis signed the treaty of Aix-la- 
lapellc, his ministers had formed a plan of encroaching 
pon the principal English settlements in America and the 
I 11 dies: as soon, therefore, as he had recruited his 
diminished navy, he commenced his operations. 

1 he province of Nova Scotia, in North America, to 

v , i 1 ie J^ renc i had & lven tIle name of FAcadie, had been 
ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of Utrecht. But, the 

soil being reputed barren, and the climate intensely cold, 
only a few English families had settled in that country* 
notwithstanding its advantageous situation for the fishing 
trade, and its abounding in naval stores; so that the French 
inhabitants, haying sworn allegiance to the British, had 
continued to enjoy their lands and ancient privileges under 
the government of England. As thev were exempted from 
carrying arms against the subjects of Louis, they assumed 
the name of neutrals. But this peaceful character, they 
shamefully violated in 1746, when France attempted to re¬ 
gain possession of the province. It therefore became ne- 
1749. cessai 7 to people it with subjects of Great Britain; 
and, in consequence of liberal encouragement, about 
three-thousand families, many of whom were Germans 
arrived in Nova Scotia. The town of Halifax was then 
built, and the harbour strongly fortified. 

New disputes arose, of still more importance. These 
related to the boundaries of the British provinces, (now in¬ 
cluded in the United States,) on which the French had 
systematically tried to encroach. 1 heir plan was, to unite 
Canada and Louisiana by a chain of forts; and to confine the 
English in that tract of country which lies within the Alle¬ 
ghany mountains and the sea. Although the British col 
onists had then made few settlements beyond those moun¬ 
tains, yet the inhabitants of Virginia considered that their 
territory towards the west was unlimited, except by the 
ocean; having been partly occupied even before the French 
discovered Louisiana; and the people of the two Carolinas 
had never doubted that they might extend their plantations 
to the banks of the Mississippi, without interfering with 
any of the European powers. Their only care was to quiet 
the jealousy of the Indians. 

S 2 


206 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Roused, at length, by the insults and invasion of 
* 754, the French, the several colonies determined to sup¬ 
port the British claims in every part of North America. 
In consequence of this resolution, major Washington, whom 
we have already mentioned in comparison with a great 
English character, was despatched from V irginia with four- 
hundred men; to watch the motions ol the enemy, and. re¬ 
cover the places which they had taken on the Ohio. Wash¬ 
ington encamped on the banks of that river, threw up some 
works for his defence, and waited to receive a reinforce¬ 
ment from New York. De Villier, having in vain sum¬ 
moned him to abandon his post, attacked him at the head 
of eight-hundred men; but Washington defended it with so 
much skill and intrepidity, as to render all the efforts of 
his enemy abortive. It was, however, agreed that both 
parties should retire: the Americans towards Will’s creek: 
the French, towards the Monongahela. 

In the following year, more important operations were 
projected, for attacking the French forts along the Ohio. 
The conduct of the forces was intrusted to general Brad- 
dock; who, for that purpose, had been sent from Europe, 
with two regiments of foot. This officer, having passed the 
mountains at the head of twenty-two-hundred men, rapidly 
advanced to attack Fort du Quesne, the chief object of 
his enterprise. Bui, unfortunately, he did not use sufficient 
caution in reconnoitring the savage country; a country 
with which he was as little acquainted, as with the nature 
of an American war; in which, the danger of surprise is 
perpetual, amongst woods, defiles, and morasses : and he 
was too proud to ask the advice of the provincial officers; 
for whom he entertained a sovereign contempt. This enter¬ 
prise terminated in an awful misfortune. Within ten miles 
of the fort, Braddock fell into an ambuscade of French and 
Indians; and, after a gallant resistance, in which his ob¬ 
stinacy seemed to increase with the surrounding dangers, 
he was mortally wounded in the breast, and defeated with 
the loss of seven-hundred men killed. In this action, the 
Virginians and other provincials, were not in the least af¬ 
fected by the horrid yells of the Indians, which had para¬ 
lysed the efforts of the Europeans ; and young Washington 
again gave proofs of that bravery and presence of mind, 
which, amidst the most appalling conflicts, always accom¬ 
panied him in his patriotic march. 

Meanwhile, both parties made extensive preparations for 
a vigorous struggle. Reinforcements successively arrived 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 207 

m America. A detachment of regulars and provincials, 
under colonel Monckton, quickly reduced the French forts 

J1 Scotia, and restored in that province perfect tran¬ 
quillity. 1 

1756. T1 We 1 sI, f return to the affairs of Europe. 

Ihe island of Minorca, which England had held for 
nearly fifty years, being threatened by the French, admiral 
/Byng,son of the celebrated lord Torrington, was sent into 
the Mediterranean, to its relief, with a fleet of seventeen 
sail; eleven of which were of the line. Prior to his arrival 
the enemy had landed on the island fifteen-thousand men 
and weie besieging the castle of St. Philip, which com¬ 
mands the port and town of Mahon. On Byng’s approach¬ 
ing the harbour, he had the satisfaction to see the British 
colours still flying on the castle; but,notwithstanding this 
animating circumstance, his attempts to relieve it were 
feeble, and consequently ineffectual. When a French fleet, 
very little superior to his in force, advanced to prevent his 
landing troops, he remained at so great a distance, un¬ 
der pretence of preserving his line unbroken, that his divi¬ 
sion did very little damage to the enemy, and his own no¬ 
ble ship, of ninety guns, was never properly in the action. 
However, the division under admiral West defeated three 
of the French ships; and, if supported, would have gained 
a complete victory. Although the English fleet had lost 
only forty men, Byng retired to Gibraltar, and shamefully 
suffered the whole island to be taken. The public voice 
being now loud against him, he was superseded by sir Ed¬ 
ward Hawke, and brought home to answer for his conduct. 
He was, accordingly, tried by a court martial, in Ports¬ 
mouth harbour; was found guilty, and shot in conformity 
with his awful sentence. 

Soon after that miscarriage, the king, urged by the clam 
ours of the nation, which were first caused by the disa¬ 
greeable complexion of affairs in America, formed a new 
administration. William Pitt, the most popular man in 
England, accepted the office of secretary of state for the 
foreign department, in the place of Henry Fox; and Mr. 
Legge was made chancellor of the exchequer. 

The first measures of Mr. Pitt were highly patriotic and 
wise. He procured an order for sending home the foreign 
troops; so long and so justly odious to the kingdom ; and 
assisted in establishing a militia, nearly on the present loot¬ 
ing, as the best constitutional defence. 


i 


208 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


The duke of Cumberland was now on the conti 

' ‘ * nent,for the purpose of guarding the Hanoverian do 
minions. But his measures were injudicious, and ended ii. 
defeat. Being hard pressed by the duke de Richelieu, the 
conqueror of Minorca, he was under the necessity ot sign¬ 
ing the singular convention oi Closter-seven ; by which, his 
army, of thirty-eight thousand foreigners, in British pay, 
was dissolved, and distributed into different places ol can¬ 
tonment, without being disarmed, or considered as prisoners 
of war. After this unhappy occurrence, the French were, 
for a while, in possession of all Hanover. To this, succeed¬ 
ed several attempts on the maritime towns in France; which, 
in general, were unsuccessful: nor were affairs in America 
now more cheering. But, at sea, the gallant Hawke, and 
other brave men, sustained the honour of their flag: in the 
East Indies, the army were gaining ground, under colonel 
Clive, captain Coote, and their active associates; and at 
Minden, in Westphalia, the British troops were highly dis¬ 
tinguished. Not even at Blenheim, was more heroism 
shown. The king of England having formed an alliance 
with the Prussian Monarch, (his nephew,) prince Frederick 
of Brunswick, was placed at the head of the combined forces; 
of which, the British infantry and two battalions of Hano¬ 
verians formed the centre. They were opposed at Minden 
by the French army, commanded by marshal Contades. 
After an obstinate engagement, the enemy, unable to with¬ 
stand the intrepid charges of the centre, were defeated 
with the loss of seven-thousand men, in killed, wounded, 
and prisoners. 

The vigorous and enterprising spirit of Mr. Pitt, seemed 
to communicate itself to all ranks and classes; especially 
to the officers of the army and navy. In North America, 
where,, in general, there had occurred delay, disaster, and 
disgrace, affairs assumed a most favourable aspect. The 
chief command in that quarter was now held by general 
Abercrombie; who divided his men, amounting to thirty- 
six-thousand, into three bodies—one division, of sixteen- 
thousand, headed by himself, in person: another, of twelve- 
thousand, by general Amherst; and the third, of eight- 
thousand, by general Forbes. The first was destined against 
Ticonderoga and Crown Point: the second against Louis- 
bourg, the capital of Cape Breton : the last against Fort 
du Quesne.—Amherst, aided by a large fleet under Bos- 
eawen, gained possession of the whole island of Cape Bre 
ton, and all the inferior stations in the gulph of St. Law 


209 


HISTORY Or ENGLAND. 

rence. Rat Abercrombie was not successful: having made 
a rash attack upon Ticonderoga, he was driven oft’ with 
considerable loss. Amherst, however, subsequently cap- 
tuied both this place and Crown Point; meeting scarcely 
any opposition. General Forbes marched from Philadel¬ 
phia against Fort du Quesne, through a tract of country 
very little known, and almost impassable, by reason of 
woods, mountains, and morasses; and, after incredible 
excitions, surmounted every difficulty, though continually 
harassed by the Indians ; and took possession of the place 
1‘ortdu Quesne, which then received the name of Fort 
Pitt, is the site of the present Pittsburgh. 

1759. i be most brilliant achievement during this war, 
was the capture ol Quebec. I his city, the capital 
ol Lower Canada, is built chiefly upon a steep rock, at the 
confluence of the rivers St. Lawrence and St. Charles 
Naturally strong from its situation, it had received every 
additional strength which the art of war could give; and 
was still further defended by its numerous garrison, the 
bravery of its inhabitants, and a force, superior to the assail¬ 
ants, advantageously posted in its neighbourhood, com 
manded by the gallant marquis de Montcalm. The reduc¬ 
tion of this place, upon the fate of which important conse¬ 
quences depended, was intrusted to general Wolfe; a young 
officer, of amiable manners, already distinguished in sev¬ 
eral engagements; beloved and respected by his army and 
his country. His land forces did not exceed seven-thou¬ 
sand men, British and Americans. 

Passing over some bold but unsuccessful operations, m 
which the enterprising commander lost about five-hundred 
men, and was reduced to an alarming situation, bordering 
on despair, we shall proceed to the attack. 

The French commander, being apprehensive that the in 
vaders might make a distant landing, and come on the back 
of the city, detached M. de Bougainville, with fifteen-hun¬ 
dred men, to watch their motions. Meantime, a daring 
plan was formed, by the three English brigadier generals, 
Monckton, Townshend, and Murray, and presented to the 
commander in chief ; which was, to land the troops in the 
night, under the heights of Abraham, a little above the 
town; in hopes of climbing the rugged ascent before morn¬ 
ing. The very boldness of this plan, which was made whilst 
Wolfe was confined by sickness, recommended it to his 
intrepid and generous spirit.—The stream was rapid, the 
shore shelving, the intended landing-place so narrow, as to 


210 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


be easily missed in the dark; and the ascent so difficult, as 
hardly to be surmounted in the day-time, even when unop¬ 
posed. The French general could not think that such an 
approach would be attempted.—Wolfe is amongst the first 
that leap on shore: colonel Howe, with the Highlanders 
and light infantry, lead the way up the hill; and the whole 
army gain the summit before break of day.—The French 
general is amazed, astonished! But he hesitates not a mo¬ 
ment. When he finds that a battle cannot prudently be 
avoided, he bravely puts his troops in motion, and hastens 
to the attack.—At first, the British suffered severely by a 
galling fire from the marksmen placed in the corn-fields 
and bushes on the enemy’s front. However, when the 
main body of the French came up, they were so warmly 
assailed by a shower of bullets, that they soon gave way. 
At this moment, general Wolfe, whilst pressing on at the 
head of his grenadiers, received a fatal shot in his breast, 
and fell in the arms of victory.—On the other side, the 
brave Montcalm and his second in command were killed.-^* 
Under all the agonies of death, Wolfe’s anxiety for the suc¬ 
cess of the day was unabated. When told, that the enemy 
were entirely routed, and fled on all sides,—“ Then,” said 
he, “ I am happy and he instantly expired. Five days 
afterwards,Quebec surrendered; and, before the termina¬ 
tion of the following year, Montreal, Detroit, Michili- 
machinac, and every other place within the government of 
Canada. It was stipulated, that their garrisons should be 
conveyed to France; and that the Canadians should be se¬ 
cured in their property, and in the free exercise of their 
religion. 

At length, the town of New Orleans, and a few planta¬ 
tions on the Mississippi, were all that remained to France, 
of her numerous settlements in North America. 

Meanwhile, the French talked loudly of retaliating the 
several insults on her coast, by invading, at the same time, 
England, Scotland, and Ireland. For that purpose, they as¬ 
sembled large bodies of troops, and collected men of war, 
ransports, and flat-bottomed boats, into their principal sea¬ 
ports. In order to defeat their intention, powerful fleets 
were sent from England, under Rodney, Boscawen, and 
Hawke; by whose vigilance, supported by the brave con¬ 
duct of their seamen, all the enemy’s vessels were either 
sunk, taken, or dispersed. Hawke came up with twenty- 
one sail of the line and four frigates, under De Conflans, 
between Belleisle and Cape Quiberon. The Frerch admi 


211 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

ral, afraid to engage the English, tried to avoid a battle, by 
keeping on a lee-shore, thick with rocks and shoals, with 
which he was well acquainted. Hawke, however, regard¬ 
less of every peril, bore down upon the enemy, and ordered 
the pilot to lay his own ship, the Royal George, along side 
that of the French admiral, named the Royal Sun. Con- 
flans did not decline the combat: but a French captain 
gallantly threw his vessel between them; and one broadside 
from the Royal George sent his noble ship Le Thesee 
with him and all his crew, to the bottom. The Royal Sun 
drove ashore; many others shared the same fate ; and the 
remainder of the enemy were indebted to a tempestuous 
night for their escape. 

1760. ^ hurot, rendered famous by his privateering ad¬ 

ventures, had got out ef Dunkirk a little before Con- 
flans left Brest. His squadron consisted of one ship of 
forty-four guns, called the Belleisle, and four small frigates; 
carrying twelve-hundred land forces. After a series of dis 
asters, owing to inclement weather, in which he parted 
with one of his ships, he sailed for the coast of Ireland, and 
made himself master of Garrickfergus. Having victualled 
his fleet and pillaged the town, he received intelligence of 
the defeat of Conflans, and then put to sea; steering to¬ 
wards France. He was swiftly pursued by captain Elliot, 
with the Asolus, Pallas, and Brilliant frigates, and overtak 
en near the Isle of IVIan. I he force on each side was nearly 
equal; and the engagement that followed was sanguinary 
and obstinate. 1 he death of Thurot determined the con¬ 
test. The Belleisle struck her colours, and the rest of the 
French squadron followed her example. 

Great Britain was now every where victorious. She 
had not only destroyed the power of France in North 
America, but had reduced it in the East and West Indies 
and in Africa; and she triumphed on the waves. Yet all 
these conquests were thought insufficient by the people. 
They complained that some islands in the West Indies 
were still in possession of the French. With more jus¬ 
tice, they were incensed, that the war in Germany was 
continued, for the protection of Hanover, and the assist¬ 
ance of Prussia. 

In the midst of this clamour, the king, on the 25th of 
October, was suddenly taken ill, and almost instantly ex¬ 
pired, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and thirty- 
fourth of his reign. u His character,” according to an im- 
pa rtial historian, “ is by no means complicated. Violent 


21 2 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


in his temper, but humane and candid in his disposition, if 
he failed to command the respect of those who were about 
his person, he conciliated their affection. If his under¬ 
standing was not very capacious, lus judgment was sound; 
and if he had little of the munificence of a great monarch, 
lie possessed the economy of a prudent prince.” 

This reign is distinguished by many writers of eminence. 
The poets are, Somerville, and Christopher Pitt; West 
Collins, and Shenstone ; Young, Akenside, and Gray ; Her 
vey and Aaron Hill; Carey, Southern, and Allan Ramsay 
Hoadly, Simpson, and Maclaurin, were mathematicians 
anatomy and physic engrossed the talents of Fordyce and 
Cheyne, Monro, Cheselden and Meade. In his “ Chace,” 
Somerville delights and interests us by his animated and 
correct description of the various modes of hunting in dif¬ 
ferent countries.—Pitt is known chiefly as a translator. 
His versions of the Alneid and Vida’s Art of Poetry, are 
harmonious and correct. The former is, by many judici¬ 
ous critics, preferred to that of Dryden.—West nas given 
an elegant translation of Pindar; and some valuable works 
on religion.'—Collins was a man of extensive learning, and 
vigorous faculties; but he has left no works of import¬ 
ance.—The poems of Shenstone consist of elegies, odes, 
moral pieces, humorous sallies, and ballads. His delight 
was in rural pleasures, and in rural elegance; to enliven 
the prospect and diversify the surface of his grounds, by 
forming the tedious labyrinth, and winding the channel of 
the brook.—In the Universal Passion, Night Thoughts, 
and Revenge, of Doctor Young, there is a copious dis¬ 
play of the highest order of talent. The first, for which 
he received three-thousand pounds, is a species of satire, 
between that of Horace and that of Juvenal. It is related 
of Young, that one day, being much engaged in reading a 
book, he wandered, with it in his hand, into a military 
camp; where he had much difficulty in proving that he 
was only an absent poet, and not a spy.—Akenside is best 
known by his Pleasures of the Imagination; and Gray, by 
his Elegy in a Church Yard: both of which are esteemed 
classical productions. 

Eminent, however, as were those candidates for poetic 
fame, the genius of Great Britain was still more highly 
displayed, by writers of a different class. As a divine, 
whose learning was sc’lely employed in critical researches 
appertaining to his own profession, Doctor Lowth must be 
considered in the very first rank. Samuel Clarke, also, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


SI3 


w as a critical divine, and published improved editions of 
Cscsar’s Commentaries, and Homer. 

Richardson was intended to transmit his name to futurity 
by exercising his talents in a less serious description of 
literature. This celebrated author, though acquainted with 
no language but his own, stands in the very first order of 
English writers. His epistolary novels—Pamela, Clarissa, 
and sir Charles Grandison, have given him a just claim »o 
the title of founder of that species of amusement.—Field¬ 
ing, as a novelist, is not inferior to Richardson. His char 
acters are his own, and drawn with the pencil of a master. 
He does not, however, rest his fame on his novels, alone : 
before he reached his thirtieth year, he had written no less 
than eighteen pieces for the stage; several of which have 
remained in public estimation—Scotland has great reason 
to boast of Smollett. He is no less remarkable for the 
greatness, than for the versatility, of his genius. Educated 
as a surgeon, he served in that capacity at the siege of 
Carthagena; and, in his Roderick Random, has given us 
an account of his expedition. His early adventures seem 
to have impressed him with that extraordinary turn for 
displaying the human character in so many different situa¬ 
tions, ancl in so just a colouring. But, to the work already 
mentioned, as well as his Peregrine Pickle, Count Fathom, 
sir Launcelot Greaves, and Humphrey Clinker, some ob¬ 
jections may be made, respecting their occasional want of 
delicacy. We are much indebted to him, however, for his 
fine translations of Gil Bias, Don Quixote, and Telemachus; 
but do not so highly admire his continuation of Hume’s 
History of England. 

At Oxford, were first promulgated the doctrine and dis¬ 
cipline of the numerous sect called Methodists; an appel¬ 
lation given to them on account of the rigid system which 
they pursued. Whitfield and the Wesleys may be consid¬ 
ered as the great extenders of their church, though it is 
said that Law was the original founder. Georgia, the last 
settled of all the English colonies now under the govern¬ 
ment of the United States, was planted in the reign of 
George the second. The first governor was general Ogle- 
thorpe; who, with about one-hundred poor people, began 
his operations on Savannah river. 

In 1752, the year commenced, in England, on the first of 
January, instead of the twenty-fifth of March; and the 
third of September was reckoned as the fourteenth. by the 
latter change, correcting an error in the kalendar* which 
T 


214 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


had been increasing for many ages. This alteration, call¬ 
ed the Gregorian, or new style, had not been adopted in 
any of the protestant states until the year 1700; nor is it 
yet used in the Russian empire. 

The erection of Westminster bridge, over the Thames, 
was completed in 1750, after nearly twelve years being em¬ 
ployed in its erection. This magnificent and useful build¬ 
ing would do honour to the taste and public spirit of any 
age or people. It consists of fifteen semi-circular arches, 
is more than twelve-hundred feet in length, and cost three- 
hundred-and-ninety-thousand pounds sterling. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

GEORGE THE THIRD. 

FIRST PART. 

AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 

' 1760—1820. 

IF the glory of a nation can justly be estimated 
J ' by its success in arms, the British empire was now 
a brilliant object of admiration. The martial spirit of the 
people, directed by accomplished leaders, supported by 
immense resources, which were industriously concentrated, 
and skilfully applied by a patriotic minister, gave to the 
young sovereign an exalted situation. 

George the third, who ascended the throne in his twen 
ty-third year, the first prince of the Brunswick line tha< 
was born in England, was son of the late Frederick, prince 
of Wales, and grandson of George the second. In the 
ensuing year, he was married to the princess Charlotte ol 
Mecklenburg-Strelitz ; and their coronation was perform 
ed with the usual magnificence, in Westminster Abbey. 
As yet, he was little known by the people. Brought up in 
retirement, introduced neither to the pleasures nor the 
business of a court, it seemed a leading object in his edu¬ 
cation, to preserve him from the contaminating allurt- 
metus, thrown, at an early age, in the way of a royal heir 
The attention thus devoted to his welfare, was not un- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


215 


profitably given. Whatever political impropriety we can 
discover, through the almost impenetrable veil of minis¬ 
terial management, we can still trace the benefits of a care¬ 
ful superintendence, in his morals. 

No immediate change occurred, either in the national 
policy, or in the cabinet. One of the first acts of loyalty, 
was introducing into the privy council the carl of Bute; a 
nobleman who enjoyed an ascendency over the king’s mind 
in consequence of the office which he had held in direct 
ing his education; a duty which he apparently discharged 
with fidelity, however we may find occasion to condemn 
his conduct in public. In the following spring, the par¬ 
liament, after appropriating the sum of eight-hundred- 
thousand pounds as the annual expenditure of the civil list, 
passed an act, in accordance with the king’s recommenda¬ 
tion, which gave additional security to the independence 
of the judges; by continuing their commissions during 
good behaviour, without being liable to removal on the 
death of the sovereign ; a salutary amendment to the regu¬ 
lations made in the reign of William the third. Some 
changes ensued in the administration. Mr. Legge was re¬ 
moved from the office of chancellor of the exchequer, and 
was succeeded by lord Barrington. The earl of Bute was 
made one of the secretaries of state, and the vice-royalty 
of Ireland was conferred on lord Halifax. 

1761 ex P ec ^^^ on 5 secretly prepared in the spring, 

* sailed in the month of March from Spithead, under 
the orders of commodore Keppel and general Hodgson, 
and in a few days arrived off Belleisle on the coast of 
Brittany. The first attempt to land was defeated. The 
next, however, was successful; but, so resolutely was the 
place defended, that two months were employed in its re¬ 
duction. In the East, and the West Indies, the British 
still maintained an overwhelming superiority. 

During these hostilities, the belligerents were anxiously 
attentive to promote a peace. Negotiations were for some 
time going forward. Although the conduct to be observ¬ 
ed with respect to the German allies, was a matter of con¬ 
siderable difficulty, the English ministers having declared 
their resolution of preserving their faith with the king of 
Prussia and the neighbouring princes; yet that obstacle 
was gradually removing. But, unfortunately, the French 
diplomatists introduced a highly offensive subject, relating 
to the affairs of Spain; a power then neutral, and of course 
uot directly concerned in the deliberations. The interior- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


216 

ence arose from a family connexion between the French 
and bpanish courts; which had long been a source of jeal¬ 
ousy to Great Britain. Cordiality and confidence, there¬ 
fore, were now destroyed, and the negotiation terminated. 

The active and provident mind of Mr. Pitt conceiving 
(hat Spain intended, on the first favourable moment, to be 
come a party in the contest, he urged the policy of includ¬ 
ing that country in the war. But this measure his col¬ 
leagues opposed, as not only rash, but unjustifiable. 
Wherefore, finding himself unable to carry his point, and 
being, from his temper and long continued success, inca¬ 
pable of bearing contradiction, he resigned his situation, 
and the office of principal secretary of state was given to 
lord Egremont. 

Although the measure proposed by Mr. Pitt, of an im¬ 
mediate attack on Spain, when considered with the cool re¬ 
flection of an experienced politician, could not be declared 
one of necessity; nor, when judged by the imperious dic¬ 
tates of morality, could not be recommended; yet, his pro¬ 
phetic notice of that country’s hostile inclination was cor¬ 
rect. As soon as the negotiation with France was broken 
off, the behaviour of the Spanish court left no doubt on the 
minds of the British cabinet of its intention, and lord Bris¬ 
tol, the ambassador at Madrid, suddenly took leave. The 
usual festivities of the new year were scarcely ended, 
’ when war was formally declared. Though already 
loaded with heavy charges; burthened by an accumulating 
debt; without any expectation of assistance in the contest; 
this great accession of hazard seemed little to affect the 
spirits of the nation. Indeed, a war with Spain is generally 
popular in England; where, she is viewed, especially by 
the navy, rather as a tempting prey, than a formidable an¬ 
tagonist. This dangerous, demoralizing avidity, first taught 
a people by their monarchs, and now influencing many who 
boast a higher degree of public virtue than is supposed to 
prevail in Europe, is the despicable feeling of a pirate, not 
the noble impulse of an offended patriot. 

In expectation of this rupture, it had been determined to 
curtail the power of France in the West Indies. Accord¬ 
ingly, twelve-thousand troops under Monckton, and eight¬ 
een ships of the line commanded by Rodney, were sent 
against Martinico. A landing being easily made, the army 
proceeded to Fort Royal; a place guarded by a strong cit¬ 
adel, and by two powerful batteries. These, however, were 
with great intrepidity taken by storm. The town then cap 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 217 

itulated. St. Pierre, the capital, was the next object of at¬ 
tack : but further operations became unnecessary, as the 
governor of the colony surrendered the whole island. This 
success was followed by the easy acquisition of all its de¬ 
pendencies; and thus, the whole Caribeean chain we'e 
now under the British dominion. 

The next object of attack, in that quarter of the globe, 
was Havana; the centre of the Spanish trade and naviga¬ 
tion in the West Indies. The fleet destined for this import¬ 
ant and dangerous service, consisted of nineteen ships of 
the line, eighteen small armed vessels, and one-hundred- 
and-fifty transports; carrying fourteen-thousand land forces: 
the former, under the direction of admiral Pococke; the 
tatter, under general lord Albemarle. Fort Moro, which 
was considered as almost impregnable, having been storm¬ 
ed through a breach made by springing a mine, Havana, 
with a district extending one-hundred-and-eighty miles, 
was yielded to the victors. A richer conquest has rarely 
been effected. Besides fourteen ships of the line, and four 
frigates, the British deprived the enemy of money and 
merchandise amounting to three-millions sterling. In the 
same month, an armament sailed from Madras, command¬ 
ed by admiral Cornish and colonel sir William Draper, 
against Luconia, the principal of the Philippine islands. 
Having stormed the capital, Manilla, they made an agree¬ 
ment with its inhabitants, by which their lives, liberties- 
and property, were allowed them, on their promising a 
ransom of one-million sterling. With the surrender of 
the capital were included the whole country and depending 
settlements. The rans*om, however, was never paid. 

By the rupture with Spain, an ancient ally of Great Brit¬ 
ain was involved in war. This was Portugal; a country 
gradually declining into disorganization and debility. A 
memorial, inviting the king of Portugal to join the alliance 
against England, had been presented by the ambassadors of 
France and Spain : but, as he refused compliance, his ter¬ 
ritories were invaded by a powerful army. However, by the 
assistance of a British force under general Burgoyne, the 
feeble Portuguese were saved from the impending ruin. 

Lord Bute’s preponderating influence on the king’s mind 
being very sensibly felt by his ministerial colleagues, an 
extensive change occurred in the members of the govern¬ 
ment. The duke of Newcastle, who held the post of first 
commissioner of the treasury, usually, though not always 
considered, as giving the title of “ premier,” retired, and 
T 2 


218 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

was succeeded by the favourite. The new minister, eithei 
from the increased difficulty ot continuing tne war in the 
face of a powerful opposition, or a desire oi relieving the 
nation from its burthens, was induced to treat for peace. 
In this measure, the Bourbon courts agreeing, it was not 
difficult to accomplish so happy an event. Preliminaries, 
afterwards ratified, were signed at Fontainbleau,on the third 
of November. The most important articles related to North 
America. The French ceded to great Britain the entire 
province of Canada, and that part ol Louisiana situated east 
of the Mississippi; together with Cape Breton and the other 
islands in the gulf of St. Lawrence. Spain yielded East and 
West Florida, and all her possessions east and south-east 
of the Mississippi; and confirmed to the English a claim 
of cutting logwood on the coast of Honduras. In return, 
she obtained restitution of Havana, and all the other con¬ 
quests in the late war. 

In this treaty, the interests of Frederick were not entire¬ 
ly neglected. France was withdrawn from the German war, 
so that Austria and Prussia were left to settle their quarrel 
by themselves; and, before the close of the year, an adjust¬ 
ment was signed at Hubertsburg, giving the latter quiet 
possession of all the territory belonging to her at the com¬ 
mencement of hostilities. 

The winding up of the war expenses, as usual, 
‘ * exhibited large arrears of debt. To satisfy this, new 

financial schemes were tried. Amongst these, was a tax of 
four shillings a hogshead on cider, to be paid by the maker; 
a most unfeeling and impolitic tax. For, surely, no im¬ 
posts can offer a greater outrage to the happiness and do¬ 
mestic rights of mankind, than such as give an excise of- 
cer frequent admission to a dwelling—the boasted “ castle” 
of a freeman. This obnoxious measure did not pass without 
strenuous opposition. Lord Bute resigned his place, and 
w r as succeeded by Mr. George Grenville. 

But the influence of the ex-minister was not, it was sup 
posed, lessened by his retirement. He was still the object 
of much virulent, and perhaps merited, abuse. Of this, 
the chief vehicle was the “ North Briton;” a periodical 
publication set up by Mr. Wilkes, in opposition to the 
M Briton,” conducted by Smollett, which advocated the 
measures of lord Bute. 

This period will long be remembered. Events of 
singular importance arose from the tyrannical sys¬ 
tem of finance which how commenced. A severe, but salu 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 2)9 

(.ary lesson, was given to a misguided sovereign. A lively 
prospect of relief was opened to the future exertions of the 
oppressed. The bold experiment began, of laying taxes on 
t he North American Colonies. For levying them, the naval 
commanders on the American coast were sworn to act as 
revenue officers ; the result of which measure was the con¬ 
demnation of many cargoes, without any means of redress 
m England. 

1765. the following winter; an interesting character 
' departed. The chevalier St. George, son of James 
the second, ended an anxious existence, at Rome, in the 
seventy-eighth year of his age; leaving two sons—Charles, 
the adventurer of 1745, and Henry, cardinal York.* 

I he marquis of Rockingham was now at the head of the 
tieasury: the duke of Grafton and general Conway were 
secretaries of state. Ey the repeal of the cider tax, and a 
modification of the obnoxious colonial imposts, the Rock¬ 
ingham party obtained the general approbation of the peo¬ 
ple. This, however, did not insure them the favour of the 
court. The whole tenor of their administration was by no 
means pleasing to the sovereign; or, at least, to those by 
whom he was secretly advised. Another change was made. 
The duke of Grafton was appointed in the room of Rock¬ 
ingham; and Mr. Pitt, now raised to the title of earl of 
Chatham, received the office of lord privy seal, and was re¬ 
garded as the leading minister. 

In the house of Commons, this great statesman had op¬ 
posed, by his uncommon powers of eloquence, the princi¬ 
ples of colonial taxation. Alluding to the spirit which that 
obnoxious measure had excited, “ I rejoice,” said he, “ that 
America has resisted. Three-millions of people, so dead 
to all feelings of liberty, as voluntarily to submit to be slaves, 
would have been fit instruments to make slaves of all the 
rest.” 

In the East Indies, a new foe was added, to those already 
raised by commercial avidity and national ambition. We 
mean Hyder Ally; an adventurer, who, from the humble 
condition of a private soldier, was now a powerful prince, 
in possession of a large tract of the Malabar coast 
Near Trincomalee,this extraordinary man was, how¬ 
ever, entirely defeated by colonel Smith, and sought a tem¬ 
porary safety in the mountains; from which, having de- 


* Charles died at Rome, in 1788; and Cardinal York, the last oi 
that royal house, about the year 1810. 


220 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

scended, he was, in the following year, again beaten, by 
colonel Wood. 

Soon after this, Great Britain was surprised by another 
change in the cabinet. Treated with disregard, either on 
account of his bodily infirmities, or his stern, uncomplying 
disposition, lord Chatham resigned the national helm, and 
the privy seal was given to the earl of Bristol. 

But the agitation of the public mind made it ne- 
1769, cessary for the king to make a further experiment 
This ferment arose from the distracted state of the Ameri 
can colonies, and a remarkable struggle between the house 
of commons and Mr. Wilkes. Many resignations occurred 
Amongst the number, the duke of Grafton made room for 
lord North; who then commenced his long prime-ministry 
Mr. Wilkes, who has been already mentioned, as editor of 
the North Briton, was at one time lord mayor of London, 
and was distinguished for the long political warfare which 
he sustained against the court, and the government influ¬ 
ence in the house of commons. His contest with colonel 
Luttrel, (afterwards lord Carhampton,) who, by an extra¬ 
ordinary stretch of parliamentary law, was admitted to take 
his seat for Middlesex, in preference to Mr. Wilkes, the 
fairly chosen member, is an important occurrence in the 
history of England; and occupies a large portion of the 
celebrated letters published with the name of Junius. 

In the month of February, a message from the 

' * king to both houses excited considerable interest. 

The immediate cause of this arose from two marriages 
lately contracted bv his two brothers, the duke of Glouce- 
stor with lady Waldegrave, and the duke of Cumberland 
with a widow lady, Mrs. Norton. Accordingly, a bill was 
enacted, which, with some limitations, rendered void all 
marriages of the royal family, made without the king’s 
consent, formally declared in council. 

The situation of the colonies now claims undivided atten¬ 
tion. For several years past, a high degree of agitation ex¬ 
isted in America. But, that we might exhibit a narration 
so very important, uninterrupted, and detached as much 
as possible from the affairs of Europe, the history of the 
colonial misunderstanding has been, in a great measure, 
postponed. 

Although the general feeling in England and America 
had caused the repeal of some of the iniquitous imposi 
tions, amongst which was a stamp-tax, yet the right of levy¬ 
ing taxes w as not abandoned by the court. Accordingly, (in 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 221 

i767,) Charles Townshend, procured an act for laying du¬ 
ties on glass, paper, painters’ colours and tea, when import¬ 
ed into the colonies. This revived the former discontents. 
At a public meeting of the inhabitants of Boston, measures 
were adopted for the encouragement of home-manufactures, 
and the promotion of frugality, by restraining the use of 
foreign superfluities. This salutary example was followed 
m the other provinces. In the ensuing spring, the ferment 
was increasing: by the king’s order, the assembly of Mas¬ 
sachusetts was dissolved: most of the colonies determined 
against importing any English goods, during the existing 
duties: the people of Boston again convened, and resolved 
to prepare arms and ammunition ; and a convention from 
ninety-six townships, held in that city, sent a statement of 
their transactions to England. In September, a detach¬ 
ment of artillery arrived from Halifax; and, soon after¬ 
wards, general Gage appeared, with two regiments from 
Ireland. 1 hese seem to have produced a temporary calm, 
as the remainder of the year passed in tranquillity. 

Yielding a little to the mercantile voice, lord North with¬ 
drew the obnoxious imposts, on all the articles except tea; 
the duty on which was retained, apparently for the pur¬ 
pose of still asserting the right of taxation. This impolitic 
measure was a source of perpetual enmity, and caused in 
several colonies the importation of tea to be prohibited. At 
length, a regulation, providing that the salaries of provin¬ 
cial governors and judges should be paid by the king, at 
whose will they could, at any moment, be removed, aggra¬ 
vated the public jealousy and dissatisfaction.—The tenden- 
cy to riot was first displayed by an attack on a royal 
schooner posted at Providence in Rhode Island, to 
prevent smuggling. It was boarded by a number of armed 
men, who put the captain and crew on shore, and burned 
.he vessel. The next indication of popular resentment oc 
curred at Boston. On the eighteenth of December, a par¬ 
ty, disguised as Mohawk Indians, entered three ships laden 
with tea, and threw their entire cargoes into the water. In 
consequence of this, the port was closed, the charter of 
Massachusetts new-modeled by the British government, 
and additional forces were sent to general Gage, as gov¬ 
ernor of the province and commander in chief—Matters 
daily grew more alarming—anarchy was rapidly in¬ 
creasing: general Gage fortified Boston neck, seized the 
militia-stores at Cambridge, and conveyed them to Boston, 


222 HISTORY* OF ENGLAND. 

Early in September, a Congress, representing 
twelve of the old colonies, was held at Philadelphia. 
The sentiments expressed by this respectable assembly were 
constitutional and loyal, sensible and manly, in language 
elegant and perspicuous. They expostulated, by letter, with 
the British general, on his hostile proceedings; published a 
declaration of rights, and an enumeration of grievances; re¬ 
commended, as a means of obtaining redress, anon-importa 
tion, non-exportation, and non-consumption agreement, to 
which they bound themselves and their constituents; and 
drew up a petition to the king, and a memorial to the 
English people. 

^ The sword was at length unsheathed. To it, re¬ 
mained the paramount decision. Civil warfare soon 
spread its desolating reign. When a party which general 
Gage had sent from Boston to seize the provincial stores at 
Concord, reached Lexington, a body of militia appeared, to 
arrest their progress; and a short skirmish ensued, in which 
several of the latter were killed. The royal detachment 
then proceeded ; and, having destroyed some ammunition 
at Concord, they were attacked, and commenced a retreat, 
which was a continued battle. At sunset, they arrived at 
Charlestown, near Boston; having lost, in killed, wounded, 
and prisoners, nearly three-hundred men. After this, the 
whole province was roused: twenty-thousand militia in¬ 
vested Boston; a small party, under colonels Allen and 
Arnold, surprised Ticonderoga; and Crown Point was 
taken by colonel Warner. 

The congress, having assembled a second time, chose 
Mr. Hancock president, and took the most effectual meas¬ 
ures for defending the United Colonies. 

Near the end of May, the English generals, Howe, Bur- 
goyne, and Clinton, arrived at Boston, with large rein¬ 
forcements, and the harbour was filled with ships of war. 

Further hostilities, were, of course, mutually expected 
The post of Charlestown, separated from Boston only by 
Charles River, being considered by the Americans an im¬ 
portant acquisition, they sent a party, at night, to throw up 
works upon Bunker’s Hill, an eminence commanding the 
isthmus which joins the peninsula to the continent. 

This was effected, with so great silence and expedition, 
(hat, before clay-break, the defences were nearly completed 
A heavy cannonade soon poured in from the vessels in the 
harbour; and, about noon, a strong body of troops, undei 


223 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Howe and Pigot, was sent to storm the place. As they 
approached, so hot and well directed a fire was opened 
against them, that they were thrown into confusion, and, 
for a while, general Howe was left nearly alone. Being, 
however, soon rallied, they made a furious attack on tile 
American works, and forced them at every quarter. The 
loss of the British, in killed and wounded, was above one- 
thousand men—about a third of their entire number: that 
of the provincials, above four-hundred. Amongst the lat¬ 
ter, was the brave general Warren, universally lamented 
by his countrymen. But this defeat was not sufficient to 
dishearten the Americans. They immediately afterwards 
formed redoubts in another situation. 

In October, general Gage having returned to England, 
the command of the British devolved on Howe. 

Meanwhile, Georgia had joined the continental alliance. 
The Thirteen United Colonies were, New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut; New York, 
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; Maryland,Vir¬ 
ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The 
era of their determined struggle now arrived. At the head 
of their armies was placed George Washington; already 
experienced, and not less eminent as a soldier, than re¬ 
spectable as a country gentleman. 

This year terminated in an unsuccessful attempt made 
t)y the Americans on Quebec. General Montgomery, 
after capturing fort St. John and Montreal, having attack¬ 
ed that city by escalade, was, with most of the men near 
his person, killed upon the spot, and a division of his 
army was taken prisoners. The next important occur- 
rence was the evacuation of Boston. On the 17th 
of March, that town was entered by Washing¬ 
ton. In the month of June, generals Clinton and Corn¬ 
wallis, aided by a fleet under sir Peter Parker, attacked 
Sullivan’s Island, in South Carolina, in hopes of forcing 
their way into Charleston, but were obliged to retire, after 
considerable loss. 

At length, The flame of patriotism could neither be ex¬ 
tinguished by the terrors of an army, nor damped by the 
experiments of temporizing duplicity. The harshness of 
the parent had rent the bands of natural affection, and her 
children no longer owed her either duty or respect. On 
the 4th of July, the colonies renounced their allegiance to 
Great Britain, and signed a Declaration of Independence 
This celebrated declaration, di awn by the philosophic Jef 


224 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


ferson, gives a particular detail of their grievances, and 
has these memorable sentiments; “We hold these truths 
to be self evident—that all men are created equal: that 
they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unaliena¬ 
ble/rights: that, amongst these, are life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, govern¬ 
ments are instituted amongst men; deriving their just pow¬ 
ers from the consent of the governed: that, whenever any 
form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it 
is the right of the people to alter, or abolish it, and to in¬ 
stitute a new government; laying its foundation upon such 
principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to 
them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and hap¬ 
piness.” 

In the remainder of this, and throughout the succeeding 
year, the chief military operations occurred at Long Island, 
Trenton, and Bennington; Saratoga, Brandywine, and Ger¬ 
mantown; with various success; but, on the whole, rather 
in favour of the British. However, the spirit of the great 
Frederick, divested of its impurities, seemed diffused 
amongst the colonies. Their energies, unrelaxed by dis¬ 
appointment, arose more vigorous after every misfortune; 
and an event, which lord Chatham had predicted, inspired 
Ujg them with additional hope. On the 6th of February, 
the American commissioners at Paris concluded a 
treaty with Louis, which was productive of most important 
benefit, from the aid afforded them, in extensive naval co¬ 
operation, in military stores, and a large reinforcement of 
veteran troops.—Of all the French officers in this war, the 
marquis La Fayette was the most distinguished, and the 
most entitled to the gratitude of America. His services were 
rendered from a pure love of liberty. But the same cannot 
be said of Louis. His aid was given through opposition to 
England; not through affection towards the oppressed. 

Other events, too, concurred in favour of the colonies. 
The summer had scarcely commenced, before Spain, on 
some slight and general charges, declared war against the 
British; and in the course of the rf volutionary contest, Hol¬ 
land was added to the number of their antagonists. Thus, 
was England engaged, at the same time, with four enemies; 
without a single ally, except some German mercenaries. 

The next principal occurrences were at Monmouth, Sa¬ 
vannah, Stony-Point, and Charleston; Waxsaw, Camden, 
Broad Pviver, Guilford, Eutaw Springs, and Yorktown. 
Although the latter was not the closing scene of this san- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 22 5 

quinary contest, yet it was there that the Americans gave 
the decisive blow. Lord Cornwallis having fixed on York- 
town, situated on the peninsula between York and Janies 
rivers in \ irginia, as a place the best adapted to his plans, 
took post there, with about seven-thousand chosen troops, 
and commenced the necessary fortifications. In the mean 
time, Washington, always vigilant and active, spread a re¬ 
port, that his next object of attack was New York, and that 
he had relinquished his intention of marching to relieve 
Virginia. In conjunction, therefore, with the French com¬ 
mander, Rochambeau, having given a hot alarm to that 
city, he suddenly crossed North River, proceeded through 
New Jersey to Philadelphia, thence to the head of Elk River 
on the Chesapeake; and, after there embarking a division 
of his troops, pursued his march, with the main body, 
through Baltimore, to Annapolis, in Maryland.—The 
Frer.ch admiral, De Grasse, having entered the Chesa¬ 
peake, with twenty-eight sail of the line, sent the welcome 
news of his arrival to the combined army; blocked up 
York River, and occupied James River, to a considerable ex¬ 
tent, to prevent Cornwallis attempting a retreat to Carolina. 
Soon afterwards, a partial and indecisive engagement took 
place off the mouth of the Bay, between the French and 
the English fleet; the latter of twenty sail, under admiral 
Greaves; when, the former being reinforced by a squadron 
from Rhode Island, the English returned ts> New York 
From this time, De Grasse was entire master of the Chesa¬ 
peake; and thus, all the hopes of the blockaded forces were 
destroyed. Invested by an army more than double the 
number of his own; with no better cover than earthen 
works, hastily thrown up, and assailed by nearly one-hun¬ 
dred pieces of heavy ordnance, the British general sur¬ 
rendered, and all his troops became prisoners of war. „ 

Cornwallis, who, with all his officers, was set at liberty 
on parole, publicly acknowledged the liberal treatment ex¬ 
perienced by himself and his whole army. 

Meanwhile, the people of England were thrown into great 
alarm. An extensive plan had been formed, by the united 
powers of France and Spain, for an expedition to the Eng¬ 
lish coast; probably intending an invasion, should a favour 
able opportunity occur. Accordingly, the combined fleets, 
above sixty in number, with a vast attendance of frigates 
and smaller armed vessels, having passed, unobserved, the 
English fleet of thirty-eight sail, under admiral Hardy, then 
cruising in the Bay of Biscay, appeared for several days 
U 


226 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


before Plymouth. But, fortunately lor lhat depot, no at¬ 
tempt against it was made; and the enemy, after suffering 
much from sickness, returned to Brest. 

Sir George Rodney, having been appointed, with a strong 
squadron, to the chief naval command in the West Indies 
and ordered on his way thither to relieve Gibraltar, then 
closely blockaded by the Spaniards; when only a few days 
at sea, captured a large convoy, bound irom St. Sebastian 
to Cadiz. Their lading consisted principally of flour; which 
he sent to Gibraltar, at that time much in want of provi¬ 
sions. Oft' Cape St. Vincents, he encountered a Spanish 
fleet of eleven ships of the line; seven of which, including 
the admiral’s vessel, he captured or destroyed. Soon after¬ 
wards, admiral Parker had a severe action with the Dutch 
fleet, under Zoutman, on the Dogger Bank. They were 
of nearly equal force; and, after an uninterrupted cannon¬ 
ading for three hours and a half, both squadrons lay like 
logs upon the water, incapable of further efforts. 

In the month of May following, the British lost the prov¬ 
ince of West Florida; one of the principal acquisitions re¬ 
tained by the treaty of Paris. 

Even their ancient possessions in the American seas were 
with difficulty preserved. Jamaica, however, was freed 
from its perilous situation by the bravery and good seaman¬ 
ship of Rodney; who, with thirty-six sail of the line, en¬ 
countered an equal force, commanded by the French admi¬ 
ral, de Grasse. In this action, which continued from seven 
in the morning until sun-set, Rodney practised a new ma¬ 
noeuvre, since attended with so great success—that of 
breaking the enemy’s line. Both sides displayed deter¬ 
mined courage. But, when the crew of De Grasse’s ship, 
the Ville de Paris of one-hundred-and-twelve guns, had suf¬ 
fered prodigious carnage, he struck his flag to sir Samuel 
Hood, in another vessel, the Barfleur; and the French fleet, 
after losing five others, bore away for St. Domingo. 

w The most interesting military scene, afforded in 

‘ * this year, was the siege of Gibraltar. Although the 

town had been already ruined, by the almost constant fir 
ing of the Spaniards during upwards of three years, yet 
small progress had been made in overpowering its terrific 
defences; and a sally, made in the preceding November, by 
its vigilant commander, general Elliot, had spread ruin 
through the nearest works of the besiegers. They were 
however, still determined to persevere. To diffuse a spirit 
of cnterorise in their army, twelve-thousand French troops 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 227 

were procured: the supreme command was given to the 
duke of Crillon; and the plan ot attack confided to the 
chevalier d’Arcon. The preparations now made, by land 
and water, were immense. \ olunteers and spectators 
assembled from almost every part of Europe; amongst 
whom, were two French princes of the blood, the count 
d'Artois, and the duke of Bourbon. 

The grand project of d’Arcon was founded on the con¬ 
struction ot floating batteries; so contrived, that it was 
thought they could neither be sunk nor set on fire. Be¬ 
sides having timbers of extraordinary thickness, they were 
fortified, on the exposed side, by a wall of cork and soaked 
timber; between the layers of which, wet sand was inter¬ 
posed; whilst a circulation of water was provided through 
the entire mass. The vessels thus prepared, were ten 
ships, from six-hundred to fourteen-hundred tons burthen; 
cut down to accommodate the intended superstructure, 
and furnished with brass cannon of unusual weight. On 
the land side, new and powerful batteries were opened; 
and forty-eight sail of the line, with many smaller vessels, 
were brought to co-operate.—In the morning of the 13th 
of September, the ten battering ships being moored in a 
line, from the old to the new mole, at nine-hundred yards 
from the Rock of Gibraltar, there instantly commenced 
a cannonading and bombardment, by assailants and de¬ 
fenders, more tremendous and awful than the imagination 
can conceive. But the showers of red-hot shot, which 
issued from the walls, were not to be resisted by any ef¬ 
forts of human art. Confusion and distress were hourly 
augmenting: the flames broke out from stem to stern: 
all the vessels, in succession, blew up ; and not a vestige 
was left, on the following day, of an apparatus so novel 
and formidable. 

When the affair was decided, the English displayed 
most generous conduct, in saving their enemies who were 
crying for help amidst the flames. 

The possibility of subduing the Americans at length be¬ 
came hopeless, even in the opinion of the crown; and 
opposition to the unhappy measures of administration 
was gradually increasing. The colonists had a large share 
of popular regard in England, and many of the most elo¬ 
quent senators espoused their cause. Edmund Burke and 
Charles James Fox, (son of Henry Fox, created lord Hol¬ 
land,) the ablest members of the lower house, had long 
combated the unjust proceedings, with a strength and 


228 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


brilliancy of argument, worthy of ancient Greece or Rome 
General Conway, too, was active on the side of justice. 
He succeeded in a motio^, that an address should be pre¬ 
sented to the king, expressing a hope that a reconciliation 
might be effected; to which, his majesty gave a satisfactory 
reply. This interposition of the commons produced an 
agreeable effect: in a few days afterwards, the administra 
tion was dissolved. The marquis of Rockingham was ap¬ 
pointed first lord of the treasury, the earl of Shelburne and 
Mr. Fox were made secretaries .of state: lord Camden. 
Mr. Burke, Richard Brindesly Sheridan, the duke of Graf¬ 
ton, lord John Cavendish, admiral Keppel,and the duke of 
Richmond, also, were members of the new government. 
The command of the forces was given to general Conway 
the vice royalty of Ireland to the duke of Portland, and 
lord Thurlow was continued in the office of chancellor. 

Several highly commendable measures of economy and 
reform succeeded. Revenue officers were disqualified from 
voting at parliamentary elections, public contractors ren¬ 
dered incapable of sitting in the house of commons, and 
many sinecures abolished. 

But, whilst engaged in these laudable improvements, the 
new ministry received a fatal blow, by the death of the pre¬ 
mier, lord Rockingham. To the vacant place at the head 
of the treasury, the earl of Shelburne was advanced; which 
appointment was followed by the resignation of the most 
distinguished members of administration; amongst whom, 
were Cavendish, and Fox; Burke, Sheridan, and the duke 
of Portland. William Pitt, second son of lord Chatham, 
(who died in 1778,) was made chancellor of the exchequer, 
and lord Temple succeeded to the government of Ireland. 
1 he former, afterwards so celebrated, had already given a 
favourable specimen of his oratorical powers, in several 
debates in favour of reform. 

The pacific inclination to which we have alluded, aided 
by the mediation of Russia and Austria, happily produced 
a termination of hostilities. The dispute between Great 
Britain and her colonies was the first subject of attention, 
and the first matter that was accommodated. On the 
thirtieth of November, preliminaries were arranged at 
Paris. By these, the Independence of the Thirteen United 
States w r as acknowledged; many concessions were made 
to the new republic ; amongst which, was the right of fish¬ 
ing on the banks of Newfoundland, and on all other fishing 
grounds previously frequented by Americans. This memor- 




HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 22% 

able adjustment was ratified in the autumn of the following 
year; and, at the same time, definitive treaties were signed 
with all the other belligerents. On the part of England the 
commissioners were, Mr. Fitzherbert and Mr! Oswald. 
Those of America were Dr. Franklin, Messrs. Adams, 
Jay, and Laurens. Franklin, the great American Philoso¬ 
pher, had been deputed by his countrymen to negotiate in 
London ; where he was examined before the house of com¬ 
mons, and completely baffled the antipacific members, by 
his uncommon smartness of reply. 

During the colonial war, the East Indies, also, displayed 
a scene of miserable devastation. The calamity, usually 
suffered from the individual usurpations of the native prin¬ 
ces, was increased by the collision of the French and Dutch 
interests. 1 he most distinguished military officer, in that 
quarter, was sir Eyre Coote. But the army was deprived 
of the services of this gallant officer, by his death; which 
happened at Madras; arising from a constitution worn out 
by long-continued attention to the arduous duties of a mili¬ 
tary life. Latterly, he had frequent opportunities of show¬ 
ing his activity and talents, in opposing Hyder Ally; 
whom he very frequently defeated. This noted sultan 
having died, was succeeded by his son, Tippoo Saib; a 
prince who, with the territorial acquisitions, inherited also 
the martial and political genius, of his father. The gov 
ernment of the British possessions in the East, was, at'this 
period, intrusted to Warren Hastings; whose conduct in 
that important office afterwards became a subject of much 
parliamentary discussion. 

Let us now turn from these miserable conflicts. Divested 
of her sanguinary passions, let us view human nature in the 
occasional exercise of Christian meekness. In the Austrian 
dominions, the spirit of improvement, had been operating, 
in the most laudable manner, by the abolition of torture, 
the introduction of religious toleration, the releasing of the 
peasants in Bohemia from slavery, and granting them por¬ 
tions of land at easy rents. This just and enlightened 
policy of the emperor Joseph, having called forth, in the 
Irish house of commons, the eulogium of Mr. Dillon of 
Lismullin, of which the emperor was informed through the 
medium of the public journals, he handsomely conferred 
upon that gentleman a German title—baron of the Holy 
Roman Empire; an honour, approved by the British mon¬ 
arch. In return for this attention, rather singular on the 
oart of sovereigns, the Irish member sent to the continent, 

U 2 


*230 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

his son, the present general Dillon; with a request that nis 
imperial majesty would accept of the youth's services in 
the Austrian army; to which, he very graciously acceded. 
That liberal spirit soon afterwards produced in England a 
rej^eal of several penalties and disabilities affecting the Ro¬ 
man Catholics. These included the punishment of ^offici¬ 
ating catholic clergymen, as felons and traitors: the lorleit- 
ure of the estates of catholic heirs educated abroad ; the 
power given to a son or near relation, being a protestant, 
of seizing a father’s or other relation’s estate: and a re¬ 
striction on members of that communion from acquiring 
landed property by purchase. The lenity of the times, 
however, had, in practice mitigated the rigour of these in¬ 
tolerant enactments. Yet, still, they were a national dis¬ 
grace, and a most serious grievance; as the liability to 
incur such penalties, was, of itself, a degrading hardship. 
This benevolent measure, brought forward by sir George 
Saville, was received with universal approbation. In a few 
days afterwards, Mr. Gardiner having introduced the sub¬ 
ject in the Irish parliament, some concessions were ob¬ 
tained in favour of his suffering countrymen. 

But, in Scotland, these relaxations were not viewed with 
the same degree of liberality. Associations were formed 
there, inimical to Roman Catholic indulgence. At the head 
of these, was lord George Gordon; (brother to the duke of 
Gordon;) a man of singular character, compounded of en¬ 
thusiasm, artifice, and folly. Through his exertions, the fa¬ 
natical spirit was roused in London; but his partisans in 
that city were the very lowest dregs of the populace. Its 
effects, however, were, for a while, extremely dangerous. 
The demoniacal frenzy which impelled them, created not 
only serious alarm, but extensive mischief; requiring the 
aid cf a strong military force, to arrest its progress. They 
destroyed all the catholic chapels, in and around the city: 
they burned the prisons of Newgate, the Fleet, and the 
King’s-bench, and many private houses; amongst which, 
was the dwelling of that great lawyer, lord Mansfield, with 
11 his invaluable papers. Nearly five-hundred of these de¬ 
luded wretches, by death or wounds, felt the consequences 
of their diabolical behaviour. Gordon was tried on a 
charge of high treason, but acquitted ; his crime not ap¬ 
pearing to the jury in accordance with the indictment. 

This period is memorable on account of the removal of 
those illiberal and unjust restrictions, which had so long: af¬ 
fected the trade of Ireland, and rendered her parliament 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 23 

dependent, in some measure, on the ministers of England 
The cause of this important victory, for in that light it 
must be viewed, deserves attention. * We shall, therefore, 
trace it to its source.—A refusal, by the English parlia¬ 
ment, to remove those grievous impediments, having caus¬ 
ed meetings in Dublin, resolutions were there taken against 
the importation of any British manufactures, or other arti¬ 
cles, which could be made or produced in Ireland. But, as 
the restrictions were not likely, by that means, to be re¬ 
moved, something further became necessary. The next ob¬ 
ject, therefore, was to strengthen the hands of the people. 
This could now be readily accomplished. The country be¬ 
ing threatened by a French invasion, an opportunity was 
afforded of arming for national defence. Accordingly, (in 
1779,) associations were formed for raising volunteer corps; 
which soon became general, and included every party. To 
join them, was justly regarded as an act of patriotism; and 
men of the first fortune served in the ranks. Government, 
nowever, viewing with apprehension these numerous bands, 
which might wrest the island from its control, attempted 
to bring them under the regulation and authority of the 
crown. It was then too late. The people seemed to appre¬ 
ciate their strength. Dreading, therefore, that the same 
spirit which had nearly caused the loss of one jewel from 
the English crown, might deprive it of another, the minis¬ 
ters apparently acquiesced in a scheme, now beyond their 
power to defeat, and furnished the volunteers with arms. 
The nation were resolved to have redress; and, in calling 
the attention of the throne, the Irish parliament declared, 
that nothing short of a free trade could save the country 
from ruin. Scarcely two months elapsed, before the British 
legislature yielded to the demand; and,in three years from 
this period, the Irish parliament obtained its independence. 

For his eminent services at this important era, Henry 
Grattan, then a member of the Irish house of commons, 
obtained from parliament fifty-thousand pounds, for the 
purchase of an estate; a return which he well deserved; 
but which has been proclaimed, by those who calculate ac¬ 
cording to the meanness of their own hearts, to have been 
the stimulant to his exertions.—Admirable reasoners ! by 
what precedent, could the Irish orator have formed the 
most distant prospect of pecuniary reward ? 

o The affairs of Ireland continued to be highly in 
7 “ teresting and important. Projects for a reform of the 
parliamentary representation, had been for some time warm- 


232 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

ly entertained by the volunteers. In September, a meeting 
of delegates, from upwards of three-hundred companies in 
the province of Ulster, was held at Dungannon; at which, 
a plan of reform being arranged, it was resolved that a con¬ 
vention of representatives from the whole volunteer army, 
should assemble on the 10th of November, at Dublin. 1 his 
meeting having taken place, Mr. Flood, on the following 
day, brought the topic before the house ol commons, by 
moving for leave to bring in a bill for the more equal re¬ 
presentation of the people in parliament. The motion, how¬ 
ever, was received with much displeasure, as being a pro¬ 
posal tendered at the “point of the bayonet;” and was re¬ 
jected by a large majority. An address to the king was 
next voted ; in which, the lords concurred; expressing “ the 
happiness enjoyed under his government, and their deter 
mination to support the present constitution with their lives 
and fortunes.” The convention then agreed on a counter¬ 
address ; beseeching, that their wish for remedying certain 
perversions in the parliamentary representation, might not 
be imputed to a spirit of innovation, but to an honest desire 
of upholding the constitution, and perpetuating the union 
of the two nations. This patriotic zeal was encouraged by 
a great change in the administration. Mr. Pitt, for many 
years a strenuous advocate of reform, was now, at the age 
of twenty-four, made prime minister of the British empire; 
and, from Ills influence, the friends of that cause had every 
thing to hope. In the ensuing spring, therefore, Mr. Flood 
again brought forward his bill, supported by a great num¬ 
ber of petitions : but it was again rejected. Exasperated at 
this defeat, the citizens of Dublin held a meeting, at which 
another petition to the king, and a circular address to the 
people, were prepared. In the address, it was proposed, 
that five persons should be selected from every county, city, 
and considerable town, to meet in Dublin, as a “ national 
congress.” The very name of “ congress” alarmed the gov¬ 
ernment. Measures, therefore, were immediately taken to 
counteract the intentions of the people, by fining and im¬ 
prisoning the most active of the magistrates who had call¬ 
ed meetings throughout the kingdom; and by prosecuting 
the publishers of those newspapers in which the resolutions 
had been inserted. These means, however, were insuffi¬ 
cient. The congress assembled in October, though in 
rather an incomplete form; passed a number of resolu¬ 
tions ; earnestly recommended a future and more nume¬ 
rous meeting, and then adjourned. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


233 


There was another cause of discontent in Ireland, pro¬ 
ceeding from the distresses of the manufacturing class. 
To so great a height, had these arisen, in Dublin, that a 
state of anarchy would have been the consequence, had not 
some public measures been adopted for their relief. A com¬ 
mittee of the house of commons having been appointed to 
take into consideration the state of the manufacturers, a 
proposal was afterwards made, that protecting duties should 
be laid on all piece-goods imported into the kingdom. The 
rejection of this motion having caused a great ferment 
amongst the populace, at the next sitting of the house a 
mob broke in, and reproached the members with having 
“ sold themselves to England.” They were, however, dis¬ 
persed by the guards, without bloodshed ; and, fortunately, 
their rage gradually subsided, from the succeeding im¬ 
provement of their trade. 

1^6 From the period at which we commenced our al 
lusions to the state of Ireland, nothing very remark¬ 
able occurred, until the impeachment of Warren Hastings. 
Owing to the number of serious charges against him, for 
improper conduct in the East, his situation excited unusual 
attention. On no former occasion, was there so conspicu¬ 
ous a How of eloquence. The most remarkable speakers 
were Sheridan and Burke. Indeed, the subject was particu¬ 
larly favourable to that kind of impassioned eloquence, 
which the orators of antiquity, when acting as public ac¬ 
cusers, displayed; and, it was universally agreed, that 
never in the British senate, nor probably elsewhere, was a 
speech of this class delivered of equal force to that, by 
which Mr. Sheridan, during five hours and a half, riveted 
the attention of a full house, and an audience of distin¬ 
guished visiters. Mr. Burke declared it to be the most as 
tonishing effort of eloquence, argument, and wit, united, of 
which there was any record or tradition. Mr. Fox said ; 
all that he had ever heard, all that he had ever read, when 
compared with it, dwindled into nothing, and vanished 
like vapour before the sun. Mr. Pitt acknowledged, that 
it far surpassed all the eloquence of ancient, or of modern 
times; and possessed every thing that genius or art could 
furnish, to agitate or control the human mind 

The trial continued for seven years, but ended without 
producing the expected, and, we have no doubt, merited, 
conviction. 

Amidst the preparations for that solemn arraignment, 
the public mind was arrested by another event; the dealh 


234 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


of the Prussian monarch. Frederick, who has, ot all mod¬ 
ern princes the best deserved the title of Great, sunk un 
der the rapid decline of an exhausted constitution, in the 
seventy-fifth year of his age. Chargeable as all the early 
part of his career may be, with despotism and rapacity, his 
latter years exhibited him as a mild and beneficent sover¬ 
eign. devoted to the happiness and prosperity of his sub¬ 
jects ; and a patriotic assertor of the rights of the German¬ 
ic body, of which he was the most illustrious member. 

Amongst the remarkable domestic incidents, was an at¬ 
tempt on the king’s life, by a woman; who, when present¬ 
ing a paper to him as he was alighting from his chariot at 
the garden gate of St. James’, made a stroke at his breast, 
with a concealed knife. The blow being happily avoided, 
the king, humanely, exclaimed, “ I am not injured-—take 
care of the woman—do not hurt her.” On examination, 
she was found to be a poor creature, named Margaret 
Nicholson; whose reason was bewildered, by some idea 
which she had formed of her having a right to the crown 
The latter part of this year was made memorable 
' * by an occurrence more serious than the preceding, 
also affecting the person of the sovereign. We allude to his 
mental derangement. This affliction, which threw so deep 
a gloom over his later years, and by which he had been 
many years before, attacked, though slightly, rendered 
him, now, totally incapable of business; and, being unpre¬ 
cedented in English history, produced a general consterna¬ 
tion, and occasioned extraordinary movements amongst 
the different parties. When parliament, which had ad¬ 
journed, again assembled, it was proposed by Mr. Fox, 
that the royal functions should be immediately vested in 
the Prince of Wales: who, as heir apparent, he asserted, 
had an indisputable claim, as soon as the sovereign, from 
any cause, became incapable of acting. To this opinion, 
however, Mr. Pitt, who was not in so intimate a friendship 
with the prince as Mr. Fox, was far from acceding. He 
declared the doctrine to be little less than treason to the 
constitution. At length, an arrangement was concluded, 
placing the royal authority in the prince, under consider¬ 
able restrictions; amongst which, the entire care of the 
royal person, and the appointment of the household officers, 
wfre assigned to the queen. 

But, in Ireland, different measures were adopted. In that 
country, the easy manners of the prince had gained him al¬ 
most universal affection. The people looked up to him as 




HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


235 


their future benefactor. In the house of commons, an ad 
dress, proposed by Mr. Conolly and Mr. Grattan; and, in 
the house of lords, one of similar import, introduced by 
the earl of Charlemont, requesting the prince to take 
upon himself, without any restriction, the executive power 
in Ireland, was carried by a large majority. When the 
deputies arrived in London, with this address, the prince 
of Wales returned his warmest thanks; but, at the same 
time, informed them of his hope, that his father would 
very shortly be able to resume the government. 

These expectations were soon realized. In a few days 
afterwards, the king was perfectly recovered; having been 
ill about four months. 


SECOND PART. 

GREAT WAR WITH FRANCE. 

THE affairs of France, at this period, having had so 
momentous an influence on the political concerns of Eng¬ 
land, in common with the impression made upon almost 
every nation of the earth, require unusual attention. 

The French people had long been struggling to recover 
the small degree of legislative authority, wrested from 
them, nearly two centuries ago, by a rapacious monarch. 
Their first efforts were made in the reign of Louis the 
'fifteenth. That prince having, in 1763, issued an edict for 
the continuance of some war taxes, and the imposition of 
others, the provincial parliaments refused their assent, and 
made a strong remonstrance against a proceeding so tyran¬ 
nical. In consequence, the king sent officers into the 
several provinces, to register them by force; but the par¬ 
liaments persisted in their opposition, and even issued or 
ders for the apprehension of his agents. That monarch, 
equally detestable in his private and his public conduct, 
was succeeded by Louis the sixteenth; a prince, naturally 
inclined rather to indulge, than oppress, the people. Rut 
his good intentions were often frustrated by his family, 
and by the interested counsel of the neighbouring sove¬ 
reigns. In that respect, the queen herself was considered 
highly culpable. The duke of Orleans, also, than whom 
the history of Europe scarcely affords a character more 


236 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


infamous, served greatly to perplex his government. He 
lias been charged even with hastening the downfa) of his 
relative, that he might himself ascend upon his ruin. 

Having thus given a sufficient sketch ot the causes, we 
shall next trace the progress, of the revolution. 

The disordered condition of the French finances, occa¬ 
sioned by the expenses of the late war and the extravagance 
of the court, had suggested an application to the body of 
the people, in the form of a convention of “notables,” 01 
principal persons in the different classes throughout the 
kingdom. This assembly met at Versailles; and was open¬ 
ed with great solemnity by the king, accompanied by the 
royal princes and the chief officers of state. But the pro¬ 
posed manner of raising the supplies, was far from being 
agreeable to the deputies, emboldened by the recent suc¬ 
cess of the American patriots. Very little business was 
transacted, and the meeting was dissolved. 

In the mean time, the necessity of the government had 
caused a recurrence to the usual mode of levying money, 
by royal edicts; with which, the parliament of Paris refused 
to acquiesce ; and the king having endeavoured to compel 
their registry, all the parliaments of France denounced pen¬ 
alties against those who should attempt to enforce their 
execution. The royal authority being now at stake, the 
king improperly retaliated, by banishing the Parisian dele¬ 
gates to Troyes. But the popular resentment constrained 
him to recall them. A compromise ensued, and the edicts 
were withdrawn. However, this apparent return of good # 
understanding was of short duration. The government ne¬ 
cessities becoming still more urgent, applications for sup¬ 
ply were again made, and were again repulsed. The result 
was, the imprisonment, by a royal order, of two of the 
members; followed by a bold remonstrance against this 
act of power, and a demand, in the name of the laws, for 
their liberation; with which open assertion of the princi¬ 
ples of free government, the year 1787 closed. 

The new year was productive of still more serious con¬ 
tests. The crisis was rapidly approaching. The further 
tyranny of the court was met by increasing opposition from 
the people. All the royal ordinances were again suspend¬ 
ed : the minister of finance resigned his uneasy post, and 
was succeeded by Necker, the celebrated banker of Gene¬ 
va; who, at a former period, had held the office, and, more 
*Jian any other man, possessed the confidence of the nation 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 237 

At length, in 1789, the popular voice was entirely pre¬ 
dominant in r ranee. A large accession of number in the 
tiers etat , or third estate, having been gained, this body, 
now feeling their importance, and being joined by a few of 
the clergy, who belonged to a distinct assembly, declared 
themselves the legislative body, and assumed the title of 
National Assembly. The king, however, supported by the 
nobles, declared their proceedings null, and commanded 
tnem to separate. Violent tumults ensued : in some of 
which, the dangerous symptom of fallen authority appear- 
ed,- an attachment of the soldiery to the popular feeling; 
v- hich induced the king and the nobles to acquiesce in the 
joint deliberation of the three orders. 

Meanwhile, the court was collecting an army around 
Paris; and, on the 11th ol July, Necker was suddenly dis¬ 
missed, with an order to quit the kingdom in twenty-foil'' 
hours. This event excited furious commotion. On the 
fourteenth, the citizens, aided by some of the military, 
stormed the state prison, (called the Bastile,) massacred 
the governor with several others, and carried their heads 
in triumph through the streets. 

Necker was immediately recalled ; several decrees were 
passed by the national assembly, abolishing ancient insti¬ 
tutions ; and a declaration of rights was agreed on, as the 
basis of a new constitution. This frame of government, 
assented to by Louis, was a limited monarchy; in which, 
the legislative authority was made superior to the execu¬ 
tive, and the king was allowed only a suspensive veto. 
But the general distress created fresh insurrections. With 
much difficulty, the king and queen were saved from the 
fury of the mob by the marquis La Fayette, at the head of 
the national guards; which corps he then commanded. 
Important changes were again made by the assembly; 
amongst which, were, the abolition of all titles, the annul¬ 
ment of tithes, and the total dissolution of monastic estab¬ 
lishments. 

These transactions created alarm amongst the. 
continental sovereigns. The emperor of Germany 
wrote a letter to the unhappy Louis, deprecating the late 
decrees; and prepared to assist him in their revocation. 
An army of French emigrants, under the prince of Conde, 
was assembling on the German border; insurrections of 
the royal party were occurring in different provinces of 
France, and suspicions mutually increasing: the ki^g, with 
X 


238 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


the queen, his sister, his brother, and the latter’s wife, se- 
cietly left the palace, by a subterranean passage, and set 
off for the frontiers; leaving behind him a paper, in which 
he protested against all the decrees sanctioned by him 
while under a state of restraint, and recited the depriva¬ 
tions and indignities which he alleged he had undergone 
from the national assembly. But his journey was soon 
prevented. He and his party were stopped at Varennes, 
and brought back under an escort of national guards. His 
brother and sister, having taken a different route, reached 
Brussels in safety. 

To enumerate the various negotiations which succeeded, 
would carry us beyond our limits. In September, the na¬ 
tional assembly having unfortunately dissolved itself, af¬ 
fairs were thenceforth managed by legislative bodies, under 
various titles,much influenced by the famous Jacobin club; 
a society of about forty, who formed a kind of national as¬ 
sembly in miniature, and an instrument of the most violent 
faction. 

France and Austria were now at open war. Hos 
tilities commenced with an attack on the Austrian 
Netherlands, by a large body of troops under general Ro- 
chambeau. Soon afterwards, it was announced, that the 
king of Prussia had marched above fifty-thousand men to 
co-operate with the emperor. Paris was filled with con¬ 
fusion and alarm : the legislative assembly declared that 
the country was in danger. The arrival at the capital, of 
the provincial volunteers, increased the general tendency 
to riot; and, in this inflammable state of the public mind, 
appeared the two celebrated declarations of the duke of 
Brunswick, commander in chief of the allied forces, dated 
at Coblentz, on his way to Paris. These were drawn up 
in a style of sanguinary menace; and espoused the cause 
of Louis and his ancient authority, in a manner which con¬ 
firmed every suspicion of his consenting to the invasion. 
A dreadful scene ensued. The palace w’as attacked: the 
Swiss guards, the gentlemen ushers, the pages, and all who 
came in the way of the insurgents, were cut to pieces. The 
king and queen, with the rest of the royal family, having 
taken shelter in the hall of the assembly, which was then 
sitting, thus gained a respite from the fury of their enemies. 
The executive power was now suspended, and Louis and 
his queen were imprisoned in the Temple. In the next 
place, royalty was declared forever abolished in France, all 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 239 

distinctions in society were overturned; and every thing 
which had graced and decorated polished life was aban¬ 
doned with contempt. 

With the turbulence, the energies, also, of the French 
nation, were increased. Dumorier and Kellerman were 
successlul, not only in checking the advance of the duke 
of Brunswick, but in lowering his tone so completely, that 
he acknowledged the right of the people to make their 
own laws, desired nothing further than the admission of 
Louis into the government, however limited in power, and, 
before the end of October, evacuated the territories of 
France. 

Having gone thus far in portraying this memorable scene 
of anarchy and bloodshed, we must turn to the effects pro¬ 
duced in England. 

In the house ot commons, allusion having been made to 
the late revolution, which Mr. Fox mentioned in terms of 
approval, Mr. Burke rose, and delivered a severe and op* 
probrious censure, not only on its conductors, but on its 
principles. Mr. Fox and Mr. Sheridan defended the prin¬ 
ciples of the revolution, whilst they joined in detestation of 
the outrages by which it had been accompanied; but Mr. 
Pitt and several other members expressed their entire con¬ 
currence with Mr. Burke. Similar oppositions of senti¬ 
ment spread rapidly through the empire; producing a spirit 
of hostility more acrimonious than that which had prevailed 
even during the colonial war. Every sect, and every rank, 
felt interested in the contest. The anniversary of the popu¬ 
lar triumph in France having been celebrated in different 
places, Mr. Burke soon afterwards published his celebrated 
work, entitled, Reflections on the French Revolution ; by 
which, he gave offence to all rational friends of political 
freedom. On this occasion, his most able antagonist was 
Thomas Paine; who brought forward his “ Rights of Man,’* 
which greatly contributed to the spreading of democratical 
principles, and a bold spirit of reform. In the following 
year, the anniversary of the revolution was the cause of an 
alarming riot at Birmingham. The populace there, being 
averse to the cause of freedom, collected in a mob, and, 
uncontrolled by the magistrates, burned several meeting¬ 
houses, and the dwellings of the principal dissenters. The 
house, books, papers, and apparatus, of that eminent divine 
and philosopher, Dr. Priestley, were consumed; and he 
himself was compelled to become a fugitive, in order tu 
preserve his life. 


240 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Ten years had elapsed, since the cause of the Roman 
Catholics particularly engaged the attention of the Irish 
parliament; since they took a serious review ol those disa¬ 
bilities, which the passions and prejudices, perhaps the 
pressure, of an intemperate season, had entailed upon them 
An intimation from the throne invited them to resume that 
duty. The good offices which they owed to each other; the 
indulgence due to their fellow subjects, recommended by 
the unimpeachable conduct of a century; the consideration 
demanded by national prosperity; all, united, in again call¬ 
ing them to a revision of that subject, at a time when the 
public mind was becoming more enlightened, and prejudice 
and jealousy were every day yielding to confidence and af¬ 
fection. A bill, introduced by sir Hercules Langrishe 
which afterwards received the royal assent, happily re¬ 
moved the most grievous restrictions from that numerous 
and loyal body of their Irish brethren. By this, and a suc¬ 
ceeding enactment, they were allowed the privilege of vot¬ 
ing at parliamentary elections; serving on petit and grand 
juries; holding commissions of the peace, in counties; 
pleading at the bar, and rising to the rank of lieutenant 
colonel in the army. The honour of assisting in the na¬ 
tional councils, with their emancipation from every restric¬ 
tion, would be attended with the highest benefit to the 
British empire. 

But, whilst England was thus increasing the number of 
her friends at home, she was creating a formidable enemy 
abroad. On the deposition of the king of France, the Brit¬ 
ish ambassador at Paris, lord Gower, had been recalled, 
and the French ambassador at London was no long¬ 
er respected. Every thing, seemed tending towards 
more serious hostility. It is, indeed, difficult to say, which 
nation advanced with the greatest earnestness, to so dreadful 
an appeal. The indications of one government were met by 
the less ambiguous declarations of the other. A letter from 
the French minister of marine, addressed “ to all friends of 
liberty in the seaports,” contained the following appeal; 
which, with some others, was quoted by Mr. Pitt in the 
commons : u The king of England and his parlia¬ 
ment mean to make war against us. Will the English re¬ 
publicans suffer it? Already, these freemen show their dis¬ 
content, and their repugnance to bear arms against their 
brothers, the French. Well! we will fly to their succour: 
we will make a descent upon the island : wc will lodge 
there fifty-thousand caps of liberty: we will plant there the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


241 


sacred tree, and will stretch out our arms to our republican 
brethren. Their tyrannical government shall soon be de¬ 
stroyed.** 

The execution of the unfortunate Louis took place on 
the twenty-first of January. When intelligence of that 
event reached England, the French ambassador was order¬ 
ed to quit the kingdom ; and this marked avowal of dis¬ 
pleasure was followed, on the part of the new Republic, by 
a declaration of war; in which Holland, also, was included. 

If we pause here for a moment, and view the immense 
load of debt with which Great Britain was already burthen- 
ed, amounting to more than two-hundred-and-fifty-millions, 
we cannot refrain from commiserating her dangerous situ¬ 
ation. The effect of the transition from a pacific to a hos¬ 
tile attitude, on nearly every branch of manufactures, was 
truly deplorable. The numerous dependents on large es 
tablishments, generally improvident, had made no provi 
sion against a sudden stagnation of their trade. As the pa¬ 
rent can no longer support his children, or be secure from 
the horrors of a jail, in despair he rushes from their pres¬ 
ence, and leaves them to their fate; or, with an aching 
heart, takes them as companions of his sorrow, and seeks a 
temporary living from the charity of strangers. 

A French army, under Dumorier, assembled at Ant¬ 
werp, for the purpose of attacking the Dutch. Breda and 
other places soon opened their gates. But, at William- 
stadt, which commands the passage of an arm of the sea 
into Holland, he was driven back by the garrison, aided 
by a detachment of English guards and gun-boats. Gen¬ 
eral Miranda invested Maestrecht, with a force of twenty- 
thousand men ; and, after completing his works, summon¬ 
ed it to surrender. The prince of Hesse, however, its 
commandant, determined on a resolute defence. Clairfait, 
the Austrian general, having passed the Roer, repulsed 
the enemy in that quarter ; and, soon afterwards, the arch¬ 
duke Albert captured some of their batteries. These af¬ 
fairs were followed by a complete victory, gained by the 
prince of Saxe-Cobourg over the French army, at Aix la 
Chapelle; from which, they were driven as far as Liege: 
and, on the same day, prince Frederick of Brunswick de 
feated a body at Bruges. Miranda was therefore compelled 
to raise the siege of Maestrecht, and hastily retreat. 

The good fortune of Dumorier seemed to have deserted 
him. All the splendid conquests made by that active com¬ 
mander in the Austrian Netherlands, being, before the end 
X 2 


2 12 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

of March, recovered by the allies, he was obliged to retire 
upon his own frontier. Dumorier was a moderate repub 
lican, and invariably opposed Robespierre, Marat, and 
others of that ferocious party; who had used the name ot 
liberty for accomplishing the most sanguinary barbarities 
in the annals of the world. He therefore formed a design 
of marching to Paris, to eflect a counter-revolution. Rut, 
being suspected by the convention, he departed lrom his 
army, and took refuge with the Austrians. Dampierc was 
then appointed in his place, b rom his fortified camp at 
Famars, near Valenciennes, the I’rench general made an 
impetuous attack on the allies, which ended in his defeat; 
he himself being mortally wounded. In this engagement, 
the British troops, under the duke of York, second son of 
the king of England, were highly distinguished. The 
camp of Famars afterwards yielded to the allies ; by which 
means, Valenciennes being left uncovered, the siege of 
that place was intrusted to the duke; to whom, after it had 
been reduced almost to ashes by a bombardment, it surren¬ 
dered. But that officer, shortly after, met a sever e repulse 
Having commenced the siege of Dunkirk, the delay in re 
ceiving his heavy artillery, and the want of an early co-op 
eration by a naval force, caused the loss of so much time, 
that the enemy were enabled to collect a powerful army 
fo.r its defence, before any progress was made in its invest¬ 
ment: the result of which was, that he was obliged to 
raise the siege, and leave behind him his battering cannon, 
with a large quantity of ammunition. 

Toulon, in the south of France, became an interesting 
and melancholy object. The citizens, in conjunction with 
admiral Turgot, had given admiral Hood possession of the 
town and shipping; on condition that they should be re¬ 
turned to the French monarchy, whenever it should be re¬ 
established. But the appearance of a numerous republican 
army, soon made it necessary for the British to retire. A 
conflagration of the magazines, arsenals, and vessels in the 
harbour, followed, under the direction of sir Sidney Smith ; 
on which occasion, fifteen ships of the line, several frigates, 
and an immense quantity of naval stores, were consumed 

In the month of October, Marie Antoinette, widow of 
the unfortunate Louis, was taken to the scaffold. The 
guillotine streamed with the blood of many others ; several 
of whom deserved a better fate. But the execution of the 
duke of Orleans, then known by the name of Egalite, (who 
had been so active in procuring the king’s death,) was re 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 243 

gretted by none. Very different was the feeling for Ma¬ 
dame Roland, whose character was the object of general 
admiration. 

I he East and the West Indies had again a large share of 
military operations. However, no useful knowledge would 
be imparted, by our attending to them, in this early stage 
td the great contest. The domestic transactions are the 
next subject of importance. 

In Scotland, a party zealous for reform had projected 
what they entitled, rather injudiciously, a national conven¬ 
tion. This society having thereby attracted the notice of 
government, prosecutions were instituted against some of 
its leading members; upon an old Scottish statute, of very 
wide and dangerous application. In consecjuence, Mr. 
Mail- and Mr. Palmer received sentence of transportation: 
which judgment, being the first instance of the imposition 
ol that punishment, for such a crime, and pronounced 
against persons of respectable character, was regarded as 
unreasonably severe. 

About this time, the British government became involv¬ 
ed in those disputes with the United States of America, 
which, finally, were attended with so serious effects. Or¬ 
ders having been given, by the former, for stopping all 
vessels carrying corn or military stores, either to France, 
or to her colonies, more than six-hundred of the American 
shipping were consequently seized, within a period of five 
months. This violation of neutral rights, accompanied by 
the impressment of American seamen, was resented by an 
embargo on the British shipping; after which, Mr. Jay 
an ambassador from the United States, having arrived in 
London, the dispute was for the present adjusted. 

The popular odium, which Mr. Pitt had already gained, 
by his precipitate breach with the French republic, was 
now increased by another measure, highly offensive to a 
nation entitled to the privileges of freemen. This was, the 
suspension of the habeas corpus act; as a counterpoise to 
the rapidly increasing spirit of reform. But, though he had 
thus succeeded in bringing over a majority in parliament 
to countenance his encroachments, he was entirely defeat¬ 
ed in his next experiment. Indictments being found against 
several members of the reforming societies, Mr. Hardy 
was first tried ; and, after an investigation of eight days 
continuance, in which the talents of his counsel, Mr. 
Erskine and Mr. Gibbs, were admirably displayed, he 
was acquitted. The trial of Horne Tooke ended in the 


244 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

same manner; after which, the other prisoners were dis 
charged. 

We are again called to the grand theatre of war. The 
continent exhibited a spectacle no less interesting than aw¬ 
ful ; unparalleled in the previous history of Europe. 

France, amid the ferocious contentions of successive fac¬ 
tions; unaided by a single friend; assailed, on all sides, by 
the strongest energies of the surrounding kingdoms; pre¬ 
served her territory uninjured. Austria, Prussia, and Hol¬ 
land; Great Britain, Sardinia, and Spain; seemed to wage 
against the republic an unequal contest. Their veteran 
troops, their long experienced commanders, now yielded to 
the soldiers of a day; led on by generals just emerged from 
the very lowest ranks. A degree of enthusiasm, bordering 
on madness, had infused amongst the undisciplined armies 
of France, an artificial courage, which nothing could resist. 
Before the end of autumn, the whole of Austrian Flanders 
and Brabant, with many of the strong towns on the Dutch 
frontiers, had fallen; and so disheartened were the Aus¬ 
trian and Prussian monarchs, that they would have made a 
hasty peace with their powerful antagonist, had it not been 
for the interposition of British gold. 

But, on another element, the French experienced a re¬ 
verse. At sea, they had to meet a foe, certainly not inferior 
in natural ardour, and far superior in skill and discipline. 

1 794. ^ rst ^ une j l° r d Howe, with twenty-five sail 

‘ ' of the line, engaged the enemy’s fleet of twenty-six, 

off the coast of Brittany. The French steadily awaited the 
attack; but, in less than an hour after the action became 
general, their commander, whose immediate opponent was 
Howe, in the Queen Charlotte, went off with crowded sails, 
followed by most of his van who were able to carry canvass 
Of those which were left crippled, seven ships were taken; 
the remainder having escaped, owing to the disabled or 
separated state of the English. The slaughter in the 
French fleet was very great. In the captured vessels, alone, 
the killed and wounded amounted to twelve-hundred. The 
total loss of the British was nine-hundred. 

Early in the ensuing spring, Mr. Pitt brought forward a 
plan for the augmentation of the navy; requiring for that 
service ninety-thousand men. The regular land-forces 
amounted at this period to considerably more. So large a 
military establishment, with the expense of maintaining a 
majority in parliament, and subsidizing the continental sov¬ 
ereigns, required upwards of twenty-seven-millions for the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 24 5 

service of the year. With regard to the king of Prussia, i* 
was observed by the opposition, that he had misapplied the 
assistance so largely given him ; having directed it chiefly 
towards promoting his unjust designs against Poland: and 
as to Austria, that the conduct of the emperor did not then 
justify a much higher degree of confidence. 

ihe conquest of Holland had become the great object 
v\ ith tne 1 ’ rench; an enterprise in which the power of Louis 
the fourteenth had failed. But the present state of the prov¬ 
inces rendered success more probable, than at any formei 
time. Since the forced restoration of the Stadtholder, by 
the arms ol Prussia, in 1787, disaffection to the house of 
Orange, and its supporters, was a prevailing sentiment 
amongst them; and, in several districts, open declaration 
had been made of their attachment to the French Republic 
and their aversion to Great Britain. The principal difficul¬ 
ty which obstructed the French, was the crossing of the 
waters between Holland and Brabant; for, when attempting 
to pass on rafts, they were repulsed by the British and Ger¬ 
man troops. At length, owing to a frost, more intense than 
any experienced for several years, they were enabled to 
transport a numerous army, on the ice, over the Waal, and 
carry all the posts in the isle of Bommel. A gallant attack 
by eight-thousand British troops, under general Dundas, 
forced them to recross the river, with considerable loss 
But this was only a momentary check. Their numbers ren¬ 
dered them irresistible. Part of Pichegru’s army made good 
their passage without opposition, and the British were forc¬ 
ed to retreat; during which, until their arrival at Bremen, 
where they took shipping for England, their sufferings, from 
the weather, the pursuing enemy, and the inhospitality of 
the country through which they passed, exceeded almost 
any of the kind that have ever afforded matter for descrip 
tion. The French immediately took possession of Utrecht 
and Rotterdam. The Stadtholder, with his son, escaped 
with difficulty from the Hague to Scheveling; and, having 
embarked in an open boat, on the following day reached 
England. Pichegru, having received a formal invitation, 
entered Amsterdam on the 20th of January. The inde¬ 
pendence of the United Provinces was then declared, and 
the preceding constitution abolished. 

This was soon followed by a peace between the French 
Republic and the king of Prussia. The treaty, which had 
been for some time progressing, was entirely in favour of 
the former; and gave her the satisfaction of being acknowf 


246 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


edged by a power which had stood foremost in the hostile 
confederacy. Spain, too, completely dispirited by the last 
campaign, found it necessary to sue for peace, and accept 
of such terms as she could obtain. She yielded all her part 
of Hispaniola, with its artillery and stores, acknowledged 
the French and Dutch republics, and undertook to use her 
influence in detaching Portugal from the alliance with 
Great Britain. 

Although, since the downfal of Robespierre, Marat, and 
their atrocious confederates, the internal relations of France 
had been gradually improving, yet there still arose a con 
siderable degree of inquietude, from the successive colli¬ 
sion of the factions which remained. The fifth of October 
was a dreadful day at Paris. A conflict took place near the 
hall of the convention, between the citizens and the regular 
army; and ended in the total rout of the people, after a 
loss of about a thousand lives. On this occasion, Napoleon 
Buonaparte, a native of Corsica, distinguished himself as a 
commander, by his intrepid conduct. Tranquillity being 
restored, a new constitution was formed, arid the conven¬ 
tion, after a continuance of three years, resigned its author¬ 
ity. The executive power was now vested in five directors: 
Reubel, Latourneur, Barras, Sieyes, and Larevelliere Le- 
paux; who were installed with regal pomp, and, on public 
occasions, displayed all the appendages of sovereignty. 
The founding of the national institute, an establishment 
which revived and included all the former celebrated acade¬ 
mies of science and polite literature, and the forming of 
central schools for the superior branches of education in 
each department, honourably testified the enlarged views 
of the new authorities. 

The republic, however, with all its attention and energy, 
was still unable to meet the British on the ocean. A fur¬ 
ther reduction of its navy was made, by admiral Hotham 
and lord Bridport; by the one, off Genoa, and the other, off 
Port L’Orient. But an exploit of more importance than any 
during this year, was the capture of the Dutch colony, the 
Cape of Good Hope, by general Craig and admiral sir G. 
Keith Elphinstone; its governor having rejected a proposal, 
that it should be assigned to the protection of Great Britain. 

Whatever consolation the minister derived from the in¬ 
variable success of the navy, and the occasional triumpln 
of the army, there seemed no reasonable hope of eventually 
controlling the formidable power of France. The people 
were extremely desirous of peace But every motion ip 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 047 

parliament upon that subject had been rejected. A petition 
therefore, to both houses, was voted in the Common Hall 
ol London, by a large majority; and also in several towns 
throughout the kingdom. The ministry, and other advo¬ 
cates ot war, became daily more unpopular, and the re- 
orming societies acted with increasing boldness. One 
meeting, m the fields near Copenhagen House, was distin¬ 
guished by the daring spirit of the addresses, made to at 
least fifty-thousand persons. In the autumn, when the king 
was proceeding through the Park to the house of lords, he 
was surrounded by a crowd of all ranks, who clamorously 
demanded peace, and the dismission of Mr. Pitt: one of the 
glasses of his coach was broken by a bullet, and on his re* 
tuin he was treated with much rudeness and indignity. 

^ ie attention of all Europe was now turned to Italy. 
That country, so frequently the theatre of hostile opera¬ 
tions, became the chief ground on which the present bel- 
COTltenc led. Buonaparte, being placed at the head 
of fifty-thousand troops, began, in the month of April, that 
rapid series of victories, which overthrew the proudest 
aimies of Austria, removed from his ancient throne the 
father of the Roman church, crushed the power of every 
other sovereign beyond the Alps, and raised his military 
fame above the greatest generals of antiquity. The ene¬ 
mies of France will long remember Lodi, Mantua, Rivoli 
and Marengo. 1 

War was declared against Great Britain, by the Dutch, 
(the Batavian Republic) in May, and by the Spaniards iu 
October. 

The Dutch had already experienced the effects of their 
attachment to the French. In the East Indies, their set- 
dements in Ceylon, with Malacca, Cochin, Chinsura, Am- 
boyna, and Banda, were taken without resistance. Is 
South America, they were deprived of Demerara and 
Essequibo, by general Whyte; and afterwards of Surinam, 
by lord Hugh Seymour. But these were not their only 
losses. Admiral Elphinstone captured, at Saldanha Bay, 
several ships of the line and frigates, with tw r o-thousand 
land forces on board. 

Early in this year, another splendid victory was 
gained by the British navy. In Spain, so much dili¬ 
gence had been exerted, that a large fleet was soon prepar¬ 
ed, with the intention of joining the French squadron at 
Brest. It consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line; six of 
which mounted, each, one-hundred-and-twelve, and one w r as 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

even so powerful as one-hundred-and-thirty-six guns. The 
squadron destined to intercept this gigantic fleet, was com- 
oosed of no more than fifteen ships of the line and some 11 ig- 
utes, but had much better seamen than the Spaniaids, and 
was commanded by admiral Jervis, an officer of fiist late 
abilities, seconded by many of the most distinguished offi¬ 
cers in the navy. On the 14th of February, the enemy were 
descried off Cape St. Vincent, on the coast of Poitugal; 
and, before they had time to form, we;e attacked, and one- 
third of their number separated from the rest. An at¬ 
tempt to rejoin their ships was prevented by commodore 
Nelson; who, at one time, had singly to encounter their 
admiral and two other first rates; and the engagement 
ended in the capture of four of their vessels, and their re¬ 
turn to Cadiz. Jervis was rewarded with the title of earl 
St. Vincent, and Nelson with the order of the Bath. 

In the same month, the enemy sent over to the English 
coast an armament, not less singular in its materials, than 
unmeaning in its object. Fourteen-hundred men, who were 
embarked at Brest in four vessels, three of which were 
large frigates, entered the Bristol Channel, and anchored 
off Ilfracombe; but, when informed that a regiment of vol¬ 
unteers was prepared to oppose them, they stood over^ to 
Pembrokeshire, and landed in a bay near Fishguard. The 
alarm was immediately given; people assembled from all 
parts; more than three-thousand men, amongst whom were 
a body of militia, were soon collected; and to these, headed 
by lord Cawdor, they immediately surrendered. The as¬ 
tonishment of the captors may easily be imagined, when 
they found that the invaders were mostly in rags, with 
every appearance of having been taken out of prison. 

Scarcely had the conversation excited by that mysterious 
affair subsided, when a cause of serious alarm was given in 
another quarter, and from a very different source. This 
proceeded from a mutiny which broke out in the navy at 
Portsmouth. Discontents had for some time existed ; aris¬ 
ing from the smallness of the seamen’s pay, the unequal 
distribution of prize money, and the severity of discipline. 
However, by the timely intervention of parliament, by 
whom their grievances were redressed, order was happily 
restored. But these concessions, to which they were enti¬ 
tled, led the way to further demands, unreasonable and un¬ 
just. A more dangerous spirit of insubordination shortly 
afterwards appeared, amongst the fleet lying off the Nore. 
The head of this revolt was one Parker; a man of some ed- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


249 


aciiUon, and equally remarkable for activity and courage, 
rlo mtormed the admiralty, that the seamen had resolved 
to keep possession ol the fleet, until they comj)lied with 
their request. It therefore became necessary, when every 
remonstrance and an offer of pardon were ineffectual, to 
employ force for their reduction. Accordingly, the buoys 
at the mouth of the Thames were removed, batteries for 
tin owing red-hot shot erected, and proclamations issued, 
forbidding all intercourse with them from the shore. One 
ship after another at length submitted ; and Parker with 
his fellow delegates was seized. He and some of the lat- 
tei \\ ei e condemned and executed ; after which, good order 
throughout the navy was completely restored. 

An opportunity was socr. afforded the British seamen to 
egain the confidence ot their officers and the admiration 
ol their country. Duncan, with sixteen ships of the line, 
having encountered, near Camperdown, a Dutch fleet of 
equal force, under Winter, captured eight of the line, two 
ol filty-six guns and two frigates; for which brilliant suc¬ 
cess, that gallant officer was advanced to the peerage. 

On the continent, the superiority of the French arms was 
still increasing. The Austrians had been expelled from 
Italy; and, though another army entered that country, un¬ 
der the command of the archduke Charles, an officer brave, 
skilful, and active, they were unable to contend with the 
greater energies ol Buonaparte, aided by numerous gene¬ 
rals, scarcely inferior to himself in the art of war. Nor was 
it in Italy alone that the Imperialists were beaten. The 
! rench pushed their successes so far, that even Vienna was 
in danger; and thus compelled them to conclude a peace. 
j 7g8 The diminution of territory, suffered by the re¬ 
volt of the American colonies, appeared to have 
been soon forgotten by the English government. Further 
and more serious warning was required, to make a perma¬ 
nent impression. A rebellion in Ireland now raised its aw¬ 
ful voice, to declare the wrongs and disappointments of an 
oppressed and insulted people: oppressed by the continu¬ 
ance of unnecessary restrictions: insulted by the hoj-e 
redress, no sooner given than withdrawn. 

To form a just decision, as to the innocence or criminali¬ 
ty of the Irish people, almost the whole effective popula¬ 
tion of the country, thus taking arms against a long estab¬ 
lished sovereignty, it will be necessary to make a retro¬ 
grade movement: in our history. We have already shown 
the effects of the. American revolution, in producing a gen 
Y 


250 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


eral spirit of resistance, and its influence in Ireland, by em¬ 
bodying the volunteers. Their first object had been gained : 
but much was yet to be accomplished. So early, therefore, 
as 1791, an association, with a view towards parliamentary 
reform, was established in Belfast; called the Society of 
United Irishmen : which consisted chiefly of protestant dis¬ 
senters. Amongst these, lord Castlereagh. (then the hon¬ 
ourable Robert Stewart,) was one of the most active mem¬ 
bers. To that succeeded a society in Dublin, having a simi¬ 
lar object, with the addition of a test. Of this, James Nap- 
per Tandy was secretary, and Simon Butler chairman. Be¬ 
sides their immediate object of reform, these liberal patriots 
gave the most strenuous aid in gaining indulgence to the 
catholics; a body entitled to the highest degree of political 
confidence. The removal of several restraints which affect¬ 
ed them has been already mentioned. For those acts, they 
were indebted, it is generally supposed, to the sole orders 
of the king: without whose desire, previously expressed 
to the minister, no motion in their favour would have been 
successful; as Mr. Pitt, notwithstanding his professions, 
was inimical to their emancipation; and the majority of 
•be Irish parliament, were, on that subject, invariably gov 
erned by the ministerial nod. 

The sudden recall, from the government of Ireland, of 
lord Fitzwilliam ; a nobleman who had been selected, in the 
year 1795, for the avowed purpose of healing its dissen¬ 
sions, by reforming its representation and admitting the 
catholics to a full participation of constitutional privileges; 
was the cause of this rebellion. The king, possessing more 
virtue in the design, than steadiness in the execution, of his 
measures, was persuaded, by the insidious whisperings of 
pensioners and placemen, to withdraw his generous direc¬ 
tions. Of these self-interested advisers, the late Mr, Beres- 
ford, who enjoyed a lucrative situation in the custom-house 
at Dublin, was the most distinguished. All hopes, either of 
emancipation or reform, were thus destroyed. Catholic and 
Protestant thence aimed only at one object; and, as redress 
nau tjeen denied them, that object was revolution. The va¬ 
rious names which had previously marked the contending 
parties, became lost, in the two great divisions of United 
Irishmen on the one side, and Orangemen on the other; the 
latter consisting of the very meanest of the established 
church, led and infuriated by government dependents, un 
der the once respected banners of Nassau, to cover the 
most atrocious persecution. For their cruelties, lord Cam* 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 251 

den, the successor of Fitzwilliam, is responsible. He 
either encouraged them by his countenance, or suffered 
them to proceed by his neglect. 

The management of the intended revolution was intrust¬ 
ed to a Directory. Its first members were, lord Edward 
Fitzgerald, brother to the patriotic duke of Leinster; Oli 
ver Bond, a merchant of considerable eminence in Dublin '< 
Counsellor Emmett; Arthur O’Connor, nephew of lord 
Longueville ; and doctor M’Nevin; all of whom, except the 
last, were protestants. A correspondence was opened, and 
an invasion of Ireland arranged, with the government of 
1 ranee. 1 his measure, however, had often been frustrated 
by the vigilance of the English admirals; and, when a large 
fleet had escaped from Brest, with a powerful armament on 
board, under general Hoclie, it was so scattered by a storm, 
that only a part reached Ireland: and even these, after wait¬ 
ing a considerable time in Bantry Bay, for the general and 
the remainder of the fleet, sailed without landing their 
troops. An insurrection, unaided by the French, was not 
intended, in the beginning. But, the chief leaders having 
been imprisoned, and the people goaded to the last stage 
of desperation by the ministerial assistance of lord Castle- 
reagh, that great political apostate, a rebellion was begun, 
without heads to direct, or officers to execute. 

The insurgents first assembled on the 23d of May. On 
the following morning, they attacked the garrison of Naas, 
in the county of Kildare,fourteen miles from Dublin; from 
which, after a warm contest, they were repulsed. Simul¬ 
taneous attempts were made at many other towns; particu¬ 
larly Carlow, Hacketstown, and Monasterevan; in general, 
with no better success. The insurrection then spread 
through several of the southern and northern counties^ 
threatening a total dissolution of the government. Severe 
engagements occurred at Wexford, Vinegar Hill, and New 
Ross; Antrim, Saintfield, and Ballinahinch. 

Happily for Ireland, the earl of Cambden was recalled, 
and lord Cornwallis deputed to restrain the fury of civil 
war. The system of moderation and rnercy pursued by 
this nobleman, was attended with immediate effect. Mili¬ 
tary execution being repressed, and a general pardon offer¬ 
ed, before the end of July the flames of rebellion were near¬ 
ly extinguished. But, in the following month, an ill-timed 
expedition from France raised disturbance in the west. 
Eleven-hundred infantry, commanded by Humbert, seem¬ 
ed, for a while, to bid defiance to the whole military force 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


252 

of Ireland. It. must for ever remain a humiliating rejection 
on the power and lustre ot the British arms, that so pitiful 
a detachment should have routed a select army ol six-thou¬ 
sand men, marched one-hundred-and-fifty miles through the 
country, and maintained their superiority until surrounded 
by upwards of twenty-thousand troops. After an obstinate 
resistance, the gallant band surrendered to lord Cornwallis, 
at Ballinamuck. Historical justice, however, requires 11 s 
to state, that, in a previous rencounter, a small party of 
the Limerick militia, under colonel Vercker, gave them □ 
severe check; and that no blame can be attached to the 
common soldiers. Their discipline had been so much 
relaxed by the turbulent policy of a former commander 
in chief, lord Carhampton, that his successor, the correct 
soldier, sir Ralph Abercrombie, declared, u the army m 
Ireland was formidable to every one but the enemy.” 

It was fortunate for the government, that, as the land 
lorces were so inefficient, the usual vigour and discipline 
continued in the navy. On the 12th oi October, a squad¬ 
ron of one ship of the line and eight frigates, with troops 
and ammunition on board for Ireland, was arrested in its 
progress by sir John Borlase Warren, at Lough Swilly; 
where, after a smart engagement, the ship of the line and 
three frigates were captured; and, eventually, the whole 
of the squadron, with the exception of two frigates, was 
taken. 

Thenceforward, the chief governor applied himself as¬ 
siduously to retrieve the country from its devastation. 

France being disengaged from her continental enemies, 
the invasion of England became more than e\er the object 
of her rulers. It was the favourite theme of their public 
orators. The conquest of their only remaining foe was 
anticipated with all the boastful confidence of the nation. 
Troops were collected on the opposite coast, and named 
The Army of England: transports of every kind were 
prepared, and a loan was negotiated on the credit of the 
English spoils. These threats had a very injurious influ¬ 
ence upon the funds, and upon the manufacturing class, al¬ 
ready deprived of an extensive market, by the hostile situa¬ 
tion of so large a portion of their ancient consumers. 

But the enemy, whilst alarming the domestic empire ot 
Great Britain, seemed to meditate a* more distant blow 
Her settlements in India being viewed with an eye of jeal¬ 
ousy, it was attempted to reach them by the way of Egypt. 
For this purpose, a large fleet, carrying twenty-thousand 


253 


IIISTOnir OF ENGLAND. 

troops, sailed from 1 oulon. Accompanying them, were 
artists of all kinds, men of science in all its various depart¬ 
ments, with every requisite lor the establishment of a great 
colony; and the conduct ol the whole was given to Buona¬ 
parte. In his passage, he made an easy conquest of Malta; 
an island considered as almost invulnerable. Egypt’s be- 
ing a province of the 1 urkish empire, then at peace with 
France, created no objection to the scheme. Having land¬ 
ed the troops, he took Alexandria by storm ; gave the Beys 
a defeat, which rendered him master of Cairo ; organized 
a temporary government, and then set out in pursuit of 
the fugitives, to Syria. 

On the first of August, one month after the entry of the 
L rench, admiral Nelson discovered their fleet, anchored 
across Aboukir Bay, near the mouth of the Nile, consisting 
ot thirteen ships ot the line and four frigates; a number, 
superior to the English. Naval history does not record a 
more awful combat than that which followed. The confla¬ 
gration of the French ship, I/Orient, ended in a dreadful 
explosion; in which, the admiral and his whole crew of 
more than one-thousand men, perished; the terrific gran¬ 
deur ol the scene being heightened by the gloom of night. 
Eleven sail of the line and two frigates testified the accus¬ 
tomed heroism of the British seamen and their great com¬ 
mander; who was loaded with honours of every kind: 
amongst which, was the appropriate title of Baron Nelson 
of the Nile. 

Sir Sidney Smyth had already gained high reputation on 
his proper element, the sea. The advance of the French 
into Syria, gave him an opportunity of displaying bis tal¬ 
ents on land; by defeating Buonaparte, who, hitherto, had 
been successful in every undertaking. Intrusted with the 
defence of Acre, he compelled his antagonist to retire, after 
a series of desperate attacks, during a two months’ siege 

In the mean time, France was losing ground in Europe 
Russia, induced by the pecuniary aid of England, had join 
ed Austria in another attempt to reduce her power ; which 
new war had considerably impaired the credit of the re 
publican arms, and her financial resources. In this state 
of things, France was surprised by the sudden appearance 
of Buonaparte from Egypt. The existing government was 
immediately dissolved, and the executive authority 
* committed to three Consuls ; of whom, Buonaparte 
was appointed chief, for a term of ten years. 

He addressed a letter to the king of Great Britain, re- 
Y 2 


254 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


questing him to enter on a negotiation for a general peace. 
But his desire did not meet a corresponding return. After 
some notes, passed between lord Grenville, secretary of 
state for foreign affairs, and M. Talleyrand, the trench 
minister, the business terminated. 

India next demands attention. Seven years had elapsed, 
since Tippoo Saib had ceded to lord Cornwallis halt his 
dominions, to be held, by the British and their Eastern al¬ 
lies, as the penalty of his hostile operations; and, as secu-' 
rhry for his submission, delivered to the former his two 
eldest sons; an interesting pledge. Influenced by the French, 
he again gave indication of unfriendly movements, and 
thereby incurred the vengeance of his watchful enemy. At 
this time, the governor of British India was lord Morning- 
ton, (since entitled marquis Wellesley,) under whose direc¬ 
tions, generals Harris and Stuart, with an immense army, 
marched to Seringapatam; which they carried by assault. 
In the attack, Tippoo himself was killed. His remaining 
territory was divided. The capital, with extensive districts, 
was assigned to the English : a large portion was given to 
the Nizam, and the rest to the ancient rajahs of Mysore, 
formerly dispossessed by Hyder Ally. 

To the calamity of war, another, if possible more afflict¬ 
ing, was at this time added. Owing to unfavourable har¬ 
vest weather, the price of corn, and every other article of 
food, had reached a height, in Great Britain and Ireland, 
unknown at any former period. Not only was it impossible 
for the labourer to earn the means of purchasing the hum 
blest necessaries of life, but the utmost dread existed, lest 
there should not remain seed sufficient for the ensuing 
spring. However, by the humanity of those whom Provi 
dence had placed above the pressure of a season, and by a 
general system of rigid economy throughout every rank, 
the people outlived their heart-rending situation. 

Benjamin Franklin, one of the greatest philosophers and 
tatesmen, either of ancient or modern times, died at Phila¬ 
delphia, in 1790, in his eighty-fifth year. 

No man ever excelled Franklin in familiarly illustrating 
an argument. He was once a member of a society, in which 
it was contended that every person who gave a vote for a 
member of the legislature, should possess a certain amount 
of property; at least fifty dollars. The doctor was opposed 
to the restriction.—“ To-day,” said he, “ a man owns a jack¬ 
ass worth fifty dollars, and he is entitled to vote; but, be¬ 
fore the next election, the jackass dies. The man, in the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 25 5 

mean time, has become more experienced: his knowledge 
ol the principles ol government, and his acquaintance with 
mankind, arc more extensive, and he is therefore better 
qualified to make a proper selection of rulers :■—but, the 
jackass is dead , and the man cannot vote. Now, gentlemen,” 
he continued, “ pray inform me, in whom is the right of 
suffrage,—in the ?aa?i , or in the assP ” 

General Washington died at his seat, Mount Vernon, in 
Virginia, on the fourteenth day of December, 1800, in the 
sixty-eighth year of his age. He was the first elected Presi¬ 
dent ot the United States; in which exalted office, his abili¬ 
ties as a statesman were equally conspicuous with his for¬ 
mer conduct as a soldier. 


THIRD PART. 

Legislative Union with Ireland.—Peace of Amiens. 

1801 ONE consequence resulting from the rebellion,, 
was a legislative union between Great Britain and 
Ireland ; long a favourite measure of administration. No 
subject ever met so strenuous opposition in the Irish parlia¬ 
ment. Eloquence and intrigue failed to obtain a majority 
in its favour. But titles and emoluments were lavishly 
employed, and hushed the new-born patriotism of many, 
who, hitherto, had voted with the ministerial benches. It 
was resolved, that Great Britain and Ireland should, on the 
first day of January in the present year, be styled the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ; that they should be 
represented by one parliament: that four spiritual lords, 
(bishops,) and twenty-eight temporal peers of Ireland, 
should sit in the house of lords; the former by rotation of 
sessions, the latter by election for life; and one-hundred 
representatives in the house of commons. The regal title 
also underwent a change; being divested of the frivolous 
assumption of “ king of France;” which, for many ages, had 
been more a subject of ridicule, than a mark of dignity. 

On the continent, the talents of the First Consul had again 
compelled the allies to conclude a peace. Each succeed¬ 
ing treaty increased the dominion and the influence of 
France. The “ armed neutrality,” re-organized under this 
control, now assumed a formidable aspect. It threatened 
to deprive Great Britain either of her arrogated dominion 
of the sea, or the benefits arising from her commerce with 


25G 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


the Baltic. Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Prussia, were 
leagued against her maritime encroachment. To defeat 
this compact, lord Nelson made an attack on the Danish 
fleet and batteries at Copenhagen; and, after one of the 
most dreadful engagements ever witnessed, burned, sunk, 

• or captured, the entire fleet, and constrained the prince 
royal to sign an armistice. This was the termination of 
hostilities, in that quarter. The Russian emperor, Paul, 
whose actions had long denoted insanity, became intoler¬ 
able to his subjects, and being found dead in his bed¬ 
chamber, was succeeded by his son, Alexander; who was 
mediately declared for the political system of his grand¬ 
mother, Catherine the second. m 

Though, by his hasty departure from Egypt, Buonaparte 
had incurred the charge of desertion, he escaped the mor¬ 
tification of defeat. England was not an idle spectator of 
the French progress to the East. Eighteen-thousand men, 
under sir Ralph Abercrombie, Hutchinson, and other ex¬ 
perienced generals, were sent into Egypt, to check that 
ambitious march. At no former period, were the valour 
and discipline of the British army so conspicuous. The 
finest of the enemy’s regiments were there literally trampled 
under foot; and in a short time the whole of their remain¬ 
ing forces agreed to evacuate the country. This service, 
however, was not performed without considerable loss, ag¬ 
gravated by a mortal wound received at Alexandria by the 
venerable commander; who thus ended a long series of 
brilliant achievements: and the infection of ophthalmia, a 
disorder, prevalent in the sandy regions, by which blind¬ 
ness was spread through the British ranks, was a melan¬ 
choly addition to the usual miseries of war. 

An exhilarating event soon afterwards occurred in Eng¬ 
land. In the course of our history, it may have been fre¬ 
quently remarked, that a change of ministry is the harbin¬ 
ger of peace. The tone of decided hostility, which Mr. 
Pitt and several of his official colleagues had maintained 
against the government of France, rendered the formation 
of another cabinet, necessary, to insure success in the in¬ 
tended negotiation. Accordingly, they retired; and Mr. 
Addington, speaker of the house of commons, was placed 
at the head of the new administration. 

The avowed cause of resignation was, that the king, re¬ 
ferring to his coronation oath, had refused to acquiesce in 
their wishes for catholic indulgence; a declaration which 
must be received with considerable doubt. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


25 7 


18Q9 On the 27th of March, a definitive treaty, between 
the French Republic, Spain, and the Batavian Re¬ 
public, on the one part, and Great Britain on the other, 
was signed at Amiens. By its conditions, the latter restor¬ 
ed to the three powers all its concjuests during the war; 
with the exception of Trinidad and Ceylon, respectively 
ceded by Spain and Batavia. Malta, which the British had 
retaken from the French, was returned to the order of St 
John of Jerusalem; under many stipulations, guaranteed 
by the great powers of Europe. 

Peace is at all times desirable by England. But it must 
have been particularly welcome, at this time; when her 
annual expenditure had arrived at thirty-five-millions, and 
her national debt at five-hundred-millions sterling: a sum 
so vast, that it cannot be contemplated by the human mind. 

FOURTH PART 
Renewal of the War. 

THE peace of Amiens gave the French Republic an 
opportunity of turning its arms against the negroes of St. 
Domingo; who, having, in the early stage of the revolution, 
shaken off' the bonds of slavery, were now, under Chris- 
tophe and Tuissaint, rapidly establishing their independ¬ 
ence. Nor were the British West India colonies free from 
insurrection. Considerable bloodshed was committed in 
many of these, by the same unhappy race, whom avarice 
has doomed to unremitting toil and unrelentir g cruelty. 

Only a short time, however, could be exclusively de 
voted to their reduction. The same pen which communi 
cated the intelligence of peace, is now employed in an¬ 
nouncing a renewal of war. 

In October, the king of Spain annexed to the royal do¬ 
mains all the property of the knights of Malta in his do¬ 
minions, and declared himself, there, grand-master of the 
order. This step, which created a new obstacle to the 
reaty of Amiens, in addition to others which had before 
occurred, was supposed to have been taken at the sugges¬ 
tion of the French. Early in March, a royal message was 
sent to parliament, which was regarded as an imme- 
180j * diate prelude to hostilities. It mentioned, that great 
preparations were going forward in the ports of France 
and Holland; which though proiessedly directed to colonial 


258 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


service, yet, as discussions of uncertain issue were subsist 
ing between the British and French governments, rendered 
it expedient to increase the means of national security. A 
corresponding address was unanimously voted, and a reso¬ 
lution passed for an augmentation of ten-thousand seamen. 
Parliament having adjourned during the Easter recess, 
some weeks passed in a state of awful suspense. After its 
re-assembling, his majesty informed both houses, that he 
had given orders to lord Whitworth, his ambassador in 
France, that, if he could not, on a certain day, conclude the 
negotiations, he should immediately leave Paris; and that, 
in case of such an event, general Andreossi, the French am¬ 
bassador at London, had applied for his passport to return. 

On the part of France, the chief subjects of complaint 
were, the delay of the British troops in evacuating Malta 
and Alexandria, and the rancorous abuse of the first consul 
in the English newspapers. These were dwelt on with con¬ 
siderable warmth at a levee, in a conversation between Buo¬ 
naparte and lord Whitworth; when, the ambassador, feel¬ 
ing indignant at the menacing gestures of the consul, pla¬ 
ced his hand upon his sword. 

Great Britain complained of severity and injustice prac¬ 
tised towards her merchants, immediately after the late 
peace; of an army being kept in Plolland, contrary to the 
remonstrances of the Batavian government; the violation 
of the independence of Switzerland; the annexation of 
other territories to the French dominions; the conduct of 
France and Spain towards the knights of Malta; and hos¬ 
tile indications against Turkey. But, perhaps the greatest 
incentive to hostility, was a bravado, made by the first con 
sul and his ministers, that “ Great Britain could not singly 
contend with the power of France.” 

On the 17th of May, war was declared against the 
French; and,in the following month, against the Batavian^ 
republic. 

Whilst measures were taking for supporting these hasty 
declarations, an insurrection broke out in Ireland. The 
promoter of this was Robert Emmett. He was a brother of 
Counsellor Emmett, who has been, for many years, one of 
the chief ornaments of the American bar ; son of Dr. Em¬ 
mett, Avho once filled the office of state physician; and for¬ 
merly a distinguished student of Trinity College, at Dub¬ 
lin. The centre of this plot was the capital. On the evening 
ot the 23d of July, about five-hundred of the very lowest 
classes, mostly armed with pikes, assembled; intending, in 


259 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

the first place, to attack the castle. The probability of suc¬ 
cess in such an undertaking, with such materials, in a city 
gan isoned by upwards oi five-thousand regular troops, 
may easily be conjectured. Proceeding, however, through 
I homas-street, lord Kilwarden, one of the principal judges, 
and his nephew IVIr. Wolfe, unfortunately fell in their way 
were dragged from their carriage, and massacred. Some 
of the yeomanry, when returning from parade, shared a 
similar fate; all, unquestionably, without the concurrence 
of Mr. Emmett. In less than an hour, these infatuated 
people were imprisoned or dispersed. Their leader, and 
nearly twenty others of the party, were tried, and, after 
patient and impartial investigations, condemned and exe¬ 
cuted. The fate of Mr. Emmett was particularly lament¬ 
ed; though, even his friends could not acquit him, for 
having thus disturbed the peace of the country, whilst 
there existed no rational hope of gaining the desired end. 

Fortunately, that humane and respectable nobleman, lord 
ITardwicke, at that time presided over the Irish counsels, 
and checked the habitual malignity of those who then urg¬ 
ed the necessity of suspending the trial by jury. 

1804 ^ irst occurrence i n this year, essential to be 

noticed, was the resignation of Mr. Addington, and 
the resumption of his office by Mr. Pitt. In the new 
ministerial list appeared the name of lord Castlereagh, as 
president of the board of control. 

Intelligence being received, that some vessels, with treas¬ 
ure, from the South American mines, were expected at 
Cadiz, the Indefatigable and three more frigates were des¬ 
patched, to intercept them. Four Spanish ships, of the 
same class, being discovered steering for that port, the 
English frigates took a situation, each along-side of an an¬ 
tagonist; and a shot was fired, to make them bring to. A 
close engagement commenced; and, within ten minutes, 
La Mercedes, the Spanish admiral’s second, blew up, with 
a tremendous explosion. All on board perished, except for¬ 
ty, who were saved by the English boats. The others, after 
considerable loss, struck their colours, in succession. It 
was a peculiarly afflicting circumstance, that, in the vessel 
which exploded, were the whole family of a South Ameri¬ 
can, consisting of his lady, four daughters and five sons ; 
with the exception of one of the latter, w r ho, with his father, 
had gone into another, and were thus spectators of the 
dreadful catastrophe. The lading of the captured vessels 
was of immense value; the destination of which for the 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


260 

service of France, was the reason assigned for this act of 
piracy, so much censured, both at. home and abroad. 

Shortly afterwards, the court of Spain commenced hos¬ 
tilities. 

Buonaparte had risen too high, to be contented with the 
smallest inferiority. Title was yet wanting, to fill the 
present measure ol his ambition. 1 his was easily obtained 
The senate, from his own suggestions, requested that he 
would consent to become Emperor: addresses to the same 
effect followed from the army and the municipal bodies; 
and a motion in the tribunate, that he should be made Em 
peror of the French, with hereditary succession, passed, 
with only one dissentient voice; that of Carnot; who de¬ 
livered his sentiments with great force and freedom. T he 
title of prince and princess, was respectively conferred on 
all the branches of the Buonaparte family; Napoleon and 
his empress, Josephine, were crowned at Paris, by the 
pope; and, in the following year, the new emperor placed 
the regal crown of Italy upon his head, at Milan. 

Soon afterwards, Francis the second, emperor of Ger¬ 
many, whose crown was previously elective, assumed the 
additional title of hereditary emperor of Austria. 

In the mean time, serious discussions occurred, between 
the emperor of Russia and the government of France. Al¬ 
exander remonstrated warmly against the usurping spirit of 
the latter, and insisted that the French troops should evac¬ 
uate the kingdom of Naples and the north of Germany. 

1805 But France remained firm in her determination. A 
new league was therefore formed; by which, Russia 
and Austria joined with England, for the purpose of secur¬ 
ing the independence of the different states. But Napoleon 
•esolved to strike a decisive blow against his Austrian an¬ 
tagonist, before his troops could be joined by those of Rus¬ 
sia. Accordingly,he entered his territory at the head of one- 
hundred-and-fifty-thousand men, accompanied by marshals 
Bernadotte, Marmont, Davoust, Soult, Ncy, and Lasnes, 
and took possession of Vienna; which, Francis with his 
court had abandoned, on his approach. In two days after¬ 
wards, Napoleon set out to join a division which was ad¬ 
vancing to meet the Russians; and, without loss of time, 
came in contact with the allies at Austerlitz. Here, was 
fought the memorable battle, in which were present the 
three emperors, of Austria, Russia, and France. This san¬ 
guinary action ended in the defeat of the allies, with the 
loss of the greater part of their artillery and baggage; and 


261 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 

compelled Francis to submit to an armistice : by the terms 
ol which, the Victor was to retain all his conquests, until 

he signing ot a definitive peace. 

Whilst the French were thus pursuing a victorious ca- 
-eer on land, their ambitious ruler experienced the defeat 
ot his hopes m gaining^ superiority at sea. This element 
bill! witnessed the almost unvaried triumphs of the British. 
Utt Cape 1 rafalgar, near the southern point of Andalusia, 
tne combined fleets of France and Spain, amounting to 
thirty-three sail ot the line, were totally overthrown by Nel¬ 
son, with twenty-seven. This great Officer had laid a plan 
o attack, a master-piece of naval skill. Having given the 
memorable signal, “ England expects every man to do his 
duty, he bore down in a double column. The enemy, on 
his approach, extended their line in the form of a crescent. 
But, though the victory which followed deprived them of 
twenty-four sail ol the line, the British suffered a much 
heavier loss, in the death of their commander. His coun- 
ti v justly appreciated his services. The honours paid, by a 
grateful and admiring nation, to the memory of Nelson, 
were never surpassed, in any age. In the same degree that 
they condemned the authors of the danger, they applaud¬ 
ed the heroes by whom it was repelled. 

An anecdote is told, of one of the crew of a British ves¬ 
sel engaged in that decisive battle, which is strikingly char¬ 
acteristic of a brave seaman. A limb having been carried 
off by a cannon-ball, when some ol his comrades were bear- 
>.ng him on their shoulders, to the surgeon’s room, below, 
he called out to one of his messmates—“ I say, Jim, give 
u look about the deck, for my leg: you’ll find a brass buc¬ 
kle in the shoe; take care of it for me, that’s a good fel- 
iow: I’ll do as much for you again.” 

About this time, lord Cornwallis, who had been appoint¬ 
ed successor to marquis Wellesley, died, at an advanced 
age, in India. 

1806 r ^ ie d eat h those two prominent characters was 
followed by that of Mr. Pitt. In the preceding sum¬ 
mer, having sensibly felt the decline of a constitution, orig¬ 
inally delicate, and long severely injured by care, fatigue, 
and the misfortunes of the allies, he retired to Bath, with 
very faint hopes of recovery. On the 23d of January, he 
expired, in the forty-seventh year of his age. This minister 
oas been styled, by his own party, “The pilot who weath¬ 
ered the stormbut, though we grant that he was a statcs- 
Onan of considerable talent, it was he who raised the gale—• 


262 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

the people, who triumpmmtly survived it. He only assess¬ 
ed the taxes—the people had the merit of paying them. 

Lord Hawkesbury having declined the ofler of becoming 
his successor, a total change was made in the administra¬ 
tion. Lord Grenville became first lord of the treasury; 
earl Spencer, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Windham, secretaries of 
state; lord Erskine, (the late commoner,) lord chancellor. 
Important offices were also assigned to lords Fitzwilliam 
Moira,Sidmouth,and Howick,(Addington and Grey.) The 
duke of Bedford was made lord lieutenant of Ireland; and, 
in that kingdom, George Ponsonby was made lord chancel¬ 
lor, Curran, the celebrated orator, master of the rolls. 

One of the first measures brought forward by the new 
cabinet, was an alteration in the military system ; particu¬ 
larly in the mode of recruiting the army. By this excel¬ 
lent arrangement, instead of being, as before, engaged for 
life, the soldiers are now enlisted for a term of years, with 
privileges augmented in proportion to the length of ser¬ 
vice; commencing with seven, and concluding with twen¬ 
ty-one years. 

That was an act of policy mingled with humanity. The 
abolition of the slave-trade, which succeeded, was one of 
humanity required by justice. More than twenty years 
had passed, since Mr. Wilberforce commenced his annual 
appeal to parliament, in behalf of the long oppressed Afri¬ 
can. In that period, much had been done to lessen his suf¬ 
ferings during the passage from his native shore; and this 
total abolition of a nefarious traffic would have been voted 
much sooner, but for the interference of commercial in¬ 
terest, in the sea-ports. 

In about a year after this, a similar non-importation 
commenced in the United States of America. 

Meanwhile, a splendid achievement was performed by 
the British army, in Calabria. Near Maida, sir John Stu¬ 
art, with a force of less than five-thousand, defeated seven- 
thousand French infantry, under Regnier. This affair, 
which caused the expulsion of the enemy from that quar¬ 
ter, was decided on a plain, by the bayonet. 

A horrid proposal of assassinating the French emperor, 
having been intimated, by a foreigner, to Mr. Fox, this ex¬ 
cellent man, with his characteristic generosity, disclosed 
the infamous plot, in a lettei to M. Talleyrand; and, at. the 
same time, expressed a de«ire to treat of peace. But a dif¬ 
ficulty arose. The British cabinet refused to act separately 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 263 

from Russia, and, after much negotiation, the treaty was 
abandoned. 

Every day increased the political influence of Napoleon 
Having first succeeded in overawing all the inferior sover¬ 
eigns of Germany, and forming an alliance, named the Con 
federation ot the Rhine, of which he himself was the head, 
he compelled Francis to relinquish the office of chief of 
the Germanic body, and yield the precedence to France, 
and used a similar tone of authority to the king of Prussia 
Roused, however, from his long continued lethargy, Fred- 
eiick engaged single handed against Napoleon. But, this 
spirit, which, at one period, might have preserved his dig- 
nity, now hastened his degradation. The victory of Jena 
gave his enemy possession of Berlin ; and the subsequent 
operations, in which the Russians, too, were almost inva¬ 
riably defeated, enabled him to dictate his own terms in 
the treaty of Tilsit. By this, the temporising Frederick 
lost a large territory, Alexander acknowledged the con¬ 
federation of the Rhine, and Joseph, Louis, and Jerome, 
Buonaparte, as kings of Naples, Holland, and Westphalia. 
It is said, that a request, made by the queen of Prussia, 
induced Napoleon to relinquish a considerable part of his 
acquisitions. When at dinner, on removing the napkin 
from her plate, the concession was found, thus laconically 
expressed : “ Silesia.” 

“When I was at Tilsit,” relates Napoleon, “ with the 
emperor Alexander and the king of Prussia, I was the most 
ignorant of the three , in military affairs. These two sover¬ 
eigns, especially the king of Prussia, were completely at 
home, as to the number of buttons there ought to be in front 
of a jacket, how many behind, and the manner in which the 
skirts ought to be cut. No tailor in the army knew bet 
ter than king Frederic, how many measures of cloth it took 
to make a jacket. In fact, I was nobody, in comparison with 
them. They continually tormented me with questions 
about matters belonging to tailors, of which I was entirely 
ignorant; though, in order not to affront them, I answered 
just as gravely as if the fate of an army depended upon the 
cut of a jacket. When I went to see the king of Prussia 
instead of a library, I found he had a large room, like 
arsenal, furnished with shelves and pegs, in which were 
placed fifty or sixty jackets of various modes. Every day 
he changed his fashion, and put on a different one. He was 
a tall, dry looking fellow, and would give a good idea of 
Don Quixote. He attached more importance to the cut 


264 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


of a dragoon or a hussar uniform, than was necessary for 
me salvation of a kingdom. At Jena, his army performed 
the finest and most, showy manoeuvres possible,—but i 
soon put a stop to their coglionerie , and taught them, that 
to fight, and to execute dazzling manoeuvres and wear 
splendid uniforms, were different affairs. II the French 
army had been commanded by a tailor, the king of Prussia 
would certainly have gained the day; from his superior 
knowledge of clothing; but as victories depend more upon 
the skill of the general commanding the troops, than upoi 
that of the tailor who makes their jackets, he consequent 
ly failed.”* 

During those momentous transactions, the British ad 
mirals made several captures. Sir Home Popham, with a 
body of troops under general Beresford, after assisting in 
the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, ventured, without 
any authority from home, to carry his whole naval force to 
South America. In the beginning of June, he entered the 
river Plata, and soon afterwards the general took posses¬ 
sion of Buenos Ayres. Plere, they found a considerable 
treasure. But, being attacked by Liniers, a French colo¬ 
nel in the Spanish service, the British troops, after a san¬ 
guinary contest, surrendered themselves prisoners of war. 
The succeeding operations, in that quarter, it is unnecessa¬ 
ry to detail. We shall only mention, that, in the following 
year, sir S. Auchmuty stormed Montevideo on the same 
river; that, in a few months afterwards, general Whitelock 
made an unskilful attack on Buenos Ayres, which ended 
in the destruction of a great part of his brave soldiers, and 
the evacuation of the country by the whole of the British 
army. 

Whitelock, on his return, was, by the sentence of a 
court martial, cashiered, and declared totally unworthy to 
serve his majesty, in any capacity whatever. 

Within a very short period, we have recorded the d^ath 
of three conspicuous public characters. The great politi 
cal opponent of Mr. Pitt was carried off, on the 7th of Sep¬ 
tember, in his 58th year, by a dropsy. Though the loss 
of Mr. Fox was a severe blow to the administration, yet it 
produced no change worthy of notice; except the substi 
tution of lord Howick, as secretary in the foreign depart 
ment, and the admission into the cabinet of the deceased 
statesman’s relative, lord Holland. 


* Voice from St. Helena, Vol. II. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 265 

1807. . Earl y * n s P r ^ n S? l° r d Howick made a motion 
111 the house of commons, which caused a dissolu¬ 
tion of the ministry. He proposed, that catholics, in Great 
Britain, should be entitled to the same privilege of serving 
and ad\ancing in the army, that was possessed by those of 
the same religion in Ireland. But this indulgence having 
been represented to the king as impolitic, the conversa¬ 
tions which arose on the subject, between his majesty and 
the cabinet, made it necessary to form a ne\v administra¬ 
tion. The duke of Portland was placed at the head of the 
treasury, lords Hawkesbury and Castlereagh, with Mr. Can- 
ning, were made secretaries of state, and Mr. Perceval was 
appointed chancellor of the exchequer. * Lords Eldon and 
Manners succeeded Erskine and Ponsonby 5 and the new 
chief governor of Ireland was the duke of Richmond. 

Even the Ottoman court was now under French influ¬ 
ence. 1 he Dardanelles and the Bosphorus were closed 
against English and Russian vessels. In consequence, a 
fleet was sent under the command of sir J. Duckworth 
with orders to force a passage; and, if certain terms were 
not arranged, to bombard Constantinople. Having passed 
the outer castles, and done considerable damage to the 
Turkish fleet and batteries, the English admiral anchored 
within eight miles of the city, and commenced a negotia¬ 
tion. But his proposals were rejected. Formidable pre¬ 
parations were made on shore, and a nearer approach to 
the city was impracticable. Wherefore, he retreated, and 
repassed the castles; which assailed him with vast marble 
shot; one of which, weighing eight-hundred pounds, cut 
in two the mainmast of the Windsor. 

That defeat gave less uneasiness to the nation, than a 
succeeding victory. Fearing that the influence of Napo¬ 
leon would turn the naval power of Denmark against Eng¬ 
land, the ministry despatched to Copenhagen an immense 
fleet; which, after enveloping that capital in flames, car¬ 
ried off her entire navy and military stores. This flagrant 
act clearly evinced the sentiments of the British ministry; 
who thus maintained the barbarous principle, that a meas¬ 
ure, though morally wrong, may be politically right. 

But, even in a political view, it was erroneous. In avoid¬ 
ing an uncertain, they raised an immediate, enemy. The 
emperor of Russia prohibited all intercourse with the ag¬ 
gressors, and restored the armed neutrality. 

When Napoleon had accomplished his present designs 
in the north, he directed his ambition towards another 
Z 2 


H1SIORY OF EJSGLAJND 


266 

quarter. Portugal and Spain became the objects of attack. 
Having entered the former, he obliged the court to seek 
refuge in Brazil. In Spain, be seemed still more success¬ 
ful. Through the perfidy of the queen, and her favourite. 
Godoy, (styled the Prince of Peace,) and the weakness of 
her husband, Charles the fourth, he conveyed that mon¬ 
arch, with his son Ferdinand, to the interior of France, and 
1808 °^ ta ^ ne( ^ possession of the throne. The Spanish 
crown was then given to Joseph Buonaparte; and 
that of Naples, which, by his removal, became vacant, to 
Murat, brother-in-law of Napoleon. 

As soon as this usurpation became known, an explosion 
of indignant patriotism burst forth amongst the people, 
from one extremity of Spain to the other. To give a regu. 
lar organization to the popular efforts, provincial “ juntas” 
were established. Of these, the supreme junta at Seville 
took the lead, proclaimed Charles’s son, Ferdinand the 
seventh, declared war against France, and solicited the 
friendship and aid of England. Never was any foreign in¬ 
terest adopted with more ardour and unanimity. Peace 
with Spain was ordered on the 5th of July: the Spanish 
prisoners were liberated, clothed, and sent to join their 
countrymen. 

In Portugal, a similar spirit of resistance w r as evinced, 
and British aid requested. Sir Arthur Wellesley, having 
landed at Mondego Bay, directed his march towards Lis¬ 
bon, then occupied Ivy the French, and after defeating a 
corps under La Borde, at Roleia, encountered Junot, at 
\ amiera; over whom, he gained a splendid victory, which 
obliged the enemy to consent to a total evacuation of Por¬ 
tugal. 

Sir Arthur Wellesley, (a younger brother of the marquis 
Wellesley,) who now began his career on the Peninsula, by 
delivering Portugal from so dangerous an enemy, had pre¬ 
viously distinguished himself in arms, particularly at Assye, 
in India. He was born in Ireland, at Dangan Castle, in 
me county of Meath. His father, the late lord Mornington, 
had placed him, at an early period of life, in that profes¬ 
sion which enabled him to perform achievements so im¬ 
portant to Europe, and so glorious to himself. 

A charge made, during Mr. Pitt’s administration, by Mr 
Whitbread, against lord Melville, paymaster of the navy, 
and his secretary, Mr. Trotter, had produced their degra¬ 
dation. 1 here was, at this time, brought before parlia¬ 
ment, a subject of much greater, and more extraordinary, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 267 

interest. Colonel Wardle, after mentioning a system of 
corruption which had long prevailed in the military depart¬ 
ment, directly charged the commander-in-chief, the duke 
0 # Yoi k, with having suffered himself to be swayed by a 
mistress, named Clarke; who had carried on a traffic in 
commissions. He asserted, that Mrs. Clarke possessed the 
power of military promotion ; and that she received pecu¬ 
niary consideration, of which the commander-in-chief was 
a partaker. During the proceedings in this remarkable 
case, which occupied the greater part of two months, and 
drew fuller houses than were almost ever known, long and 
minute examinations took place, of persons of both sexes; 
several of whom were of a description rarely seen at the 
bar of a legislative assembly; and gave answers, (especially 
the female most concerned,) which often more contributed 
to the entertainment, than corresponded with the dignity, 
of that body. That Mrs. C. had received sums of money 
for obtaining promotions, clearly appeared ; but, the proof 
of the duke’s participation depended chiefly on the credi¬ 
bility of that female herself. As he was defended by the 
ministry, he was exculpated by a majority, of two-hundred- 
and-thirty-fivc, to one-hundred-and-twelve. His situation, 
the official duties of which he certainly performed much 
to the general advantage of the army, he had in the mean 
time resigned. 

YV hen this investigation was concluded, a vast armament 
was prepared in the English harbours. Its principal object 
was co gain possession of the islands commanding the en¬ 
trance of the Scheldt, and destroy the French ships of war 
in that river; with the dock yards and arsenals; on which, 
great labour had been expended, as an essential part of 
Napoleon’s project of contending, on equal terms, with 
the navy of England. The command of this expedition was 
given to lord Chatham ; a general by profession, brother of 
the late Mr. Pitt. The event accorded with this injudicious, 
or rather criminal, selection, of an inexperienced leader; 
and too fully justified the anticipations of an indignant 
public. Never was an enterprise so extensively fatal to a 
British army, and so disgraceful to its projectors. When, 
by the commander’s inaction, the opportunity of employ¬ 
ing his forces had been lost, the ill-fated soldiery were left 
in the pestiferous marshes of Walcheren, without tents to 
cover, or medicine to relieve, until half the land-forces 
were either buried or expiring. 

By a very surprising occurrence, Sweden, which, dur- 


HISTORY OF ENGI/AND. 


268 

ing this war, had generally been favourable to England, at 
length assumed a hostile attitude. Marshal Bernadotte 
prince of Ponte Corvo, was chosen Crown Prince, and 
thereby became successor to the throne of that kingdom; 
affording an example, unprecedented, in modern history, 
of an ancient monarchy rejecting every branch of its royal 
line, and choosing for its future sovereign a soldier of for¬ 
tune; a stranger, of humble oiigin, known to the nation 
only by his residence in the north of Germany, as an offi¬ 
cer of Napoleon. Immediately, the Swedish court issued 
a decree of non-intercourse with Great Britain, and declar¬ 
ed its adherence to the “ continental system,” which ex¬ 
cluded every article of British manufacture. 

FIFTH PART. 

REGENCY. 


Continuation of the War—Peace of Pam . 

THE latter part of this year was marked by the recur¬ 
rence of a domestic calamity, producing a change in the ex 
ecutive, which forms an era in the present reign. The king, 
in consequence, it was supposed, of deep affliction, from 
the sufferings of his youngest daughter, the-princess Ame 
lia, which terminated in her death, was attacked by the 
mental malady under which he had before laboured. It 
therefore became necessary to appoint a Regent; and, on 
the 5th of February, that important office was as¬ 
signed, by parliament, to the prince of Wales. 

A second enumeration of the inhabitants of Great Brit¬ 
ain was now completed. This exhibited a population of 
twelve-millions-five-hundred-thousand; and an increase of 
above one-million-and-a-half, in ten years. The census was 
ordered to be made in Ireland; but it was not very accu¬ 
rately taken. Its inhabitants, however, may be estimated 
then, at five-millions. 

The annual expenditure of the empire, including inter¬ 
est on the public debt, was, at this period, upwards of 
sixty-millions sterling. 

Contrary to general expectation, the early friends of the 
Prince, amongst whom those able and upright Irishmen, 
lord Moira and Mr. Sheridan, held a distinguished place. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


269 

were not treated with that degree of political confidence, 
expected by themselves and desired by the people. The 
administration proceeded unchanged, until deprived ofits 
leader by a most tragical and extraordinary event. As Mr. 
Perceval was entering the lobby of the house of commons, 
1812 . a P erson Tiamed Bellingham, fired a pistol at him; 

the ball from which pierced his heart. He stag¬ 
gered, fell, and in a short time expired. It was soon dis¬ 
covered that the act was in revenge of a supposed injury 
Bellingham, having, in a commercial visit to Russia, ui der- 
gone losses, for which he thought the British government 
were bound to procure him redress, their refusal to take 
any cognizance of his case made such an impression on his 
mind, that he resolved to sacrifice a conspicuous member. 
The assassin suffered death for a deed of atrocity, which 
would have been a national stain, had it not evidently re¬ 
sulted from a degree of mental distemperature. 

Since we last alluded to Napoleon, he inflicted addition¬ 
al humiliation on the house of Austria. Francis had again 
tried the fortune of the field, and had again been conquered. 
The battle of Wagram, in which the archduke Charles and 
Napoleon contended with more than three-hundred-thou- 
sand men and twelve-hundred pieces of artillery, having 
ended in the total overthrow of the Austrians, obliged them 
to conclude a disadvantageous peace. This gave the vic¬ 
tor, and the assisting members of the Rhenish Confederacy, 
a large portion of the Austrian dominions, constrained the 
unhappy Francis not only to acquiesce in all his ambitious 
projects, but, by a secret article of the treaty, to deliver, to 
his enemy, a beloved and affectionate child. In conformity 
with this stipulation, Josephine, who had given no heir to 
Napoleon, was divorced, and her place supplied by Maria 
Louisa; the interesting sacrifice of an unworthy parent. 

But, on the Peninsula, the French arms were opposed 
with determined heroism. In Spain, their victories in one 
quarter, were followed, in another, by defeat. There, they 
were opposed, not by the cold calculations of political ex¬ 
pediency, but by the ardent feelings of an insulted nation 
The ablest marshals of France, assisted by the national de¬ 
sertion of an enervated nobility, though they might have 
ultimately destroyed, had as yet failed to intimidate, the 
people. The disastrous retreat of the gallant Moore, upon 
Corunna, where he ended his misfortunes, and his remaining 
army purchased their embarkation by the sword, was but 
a temporary check to the British arms. The long series of 


270 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


success which followed the cautious intrepidity of Welk*. 
ley, (now lord Wellington,) aided by such officers as Hope, 
Beresford, and Graham ; Hill, Sterrett, and Picton; obliged 
the new sovereign to evacuate his capita 1 , with slender 
hopes of a return. The victories of Talavera, Buzaco, 
Puentes d’Honor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, and Salaman¬ 
ca, were gained, in person, by lord Wellington. The battle 
of Albuera was won by Beresford ; that of Baroso, by Gra¬ 
ham : Arroyo del Molino, by Hill; and Sterrett, claimed 
the honours of Tariffa. The commanders who opposed 
the British, Spanish, and Portuguese combined armies 
were Joseph Buonaparte, and Soult; Victor, Junot, Kel- 
lerman, Sebastiani, Ney, Mortier, Suchet, Massena, and 
Marmont. But, only the most remarkable conflicts are 
here recorded. Nor, is any notice taken of the numerous 
engagements fought exclusively by the Spaniards, under 
their own officers. 

Whilst these operations promised to wrest the Spanish 
sceptre from the grasp of violence, the continued success 
of the British navy, and of the land-forces on colonial duty, 
had annihilated Napoleon’s transmarine dominion. He had 
not now remaining a foot of land in either of the Indies, 
nor a ship on the Indian ocean. Some consolation, how¬ 
ever, in these disappointments, was derived, from the birth 
of a son; who, even in his cradle, was advanced to the 
regal dignity, as king of Rome. 

As he was unable to preserve the ancient colonies in 
Asia or America, Napoleon seemed anxious to gain an 
equivalent in Europe. This equivalent was Russia. Alex¬ 
ander’s refusal to concur in his favourite scheme of ex¬ 
cluding the British commerce from the whole European 
continent, he regarded as a sufficient cause for marching 
against that country, with all the disposable force of his 
own territories, or those under his influence. The mass 
of military power thus collected, surpassed, probably in 
numerical amount, certainly in discipline, any with which 
a European conqueror had taken the field, since the ages 
of barbarism; and was undoubtedly designed to greater 
changes, than mere commercial regulation. 

The first movement connected with Napoleon’s plan, was 
the occupation of Swedish Pomerania. Twenty-thousand 
French troops were stationed there, as a pledge for the con¬ 
duct of Sweden in the ensuing contest. Early in the spring 
the grand army began its march towards Poland; and on 
its way was joined by a body of Prussians. The emperor, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 271 

Alexander, prepared to meet the storm, by quitting his 
capita , and advancing to Wilna; where, he met Barclay 
f® } o^b comm^ckr-in-chief of his first army. On the 
16th ot May, Napoleon, accompanied by his empress, reach¬ 
ed Dresden; at which place, they were to hold an inter¬ 
view with the emperor and empress of Austria. 

At length, the invading army, commanded by the French 
emperor, advanced in nine divisions; composing a total so 
much superior to the Russians, that a defensive plan, only 
could be recommended by the cabinet of Petersburg^ This 
was, to retreat gradually, and make a stand in favourable 
positions. When the determination was taken, the danger 
became still more imminent. Austria sent her stipulated 
number of troops to act with the French, already strength¬ 
ened by the sudden junction of the Poles. The first great 
stand was made at S:nolensko; from which, after a sangui- 
nai y effort, the Russians retreated. Moscow being now 
the great object of contest, a strong position was taken 
at Borodina. Here, an obstinate combat took place, and 
each side claimed the victory; yet, whilst Te Deum was 
singing at Petersburgh, the French, with only a little skir¬ 
mishing, entered Moscow. So far, Napoleon seemed vic¬ 
torious. Russia seemed united to his empire. But, whilst 
its fate was trembling in the balance, the scale was quickly 
turned against the invader, by an unexpected enemy—an 
awful conflagration. To deprive the French of a place for 
winter quarters, the governor of Moscow caused the city 
to be set on fire, in many places; which occasioned a de¬ 
struction, so extensive, that, within a few days, not more 
than a tenth of the buildings remained unconsumed. No 
shelter could be found amongst the ruins. On the 19th of 
October, Napoleon left that scene of desolation. His re¬ 
treating army were closely pressed by an exasperated foe; 
and, what was still worse, by a Russian winter. Half bu 
ried in snow, stiffened by the frost, their sufferings were 
extreme, their losses of every kind, prodigious. Horses 
died in so great numbers, that nearly all their artillery were 
abandoned, and almost the entire of their cavalry, dis¬ 
mounted. Whole bodies of men, disabled by cold and hun¬ 
ger, surrendered without resistance. Every thing wore the 
appearance of disaster and dismay. When the army reach¬ 
ed Wilna, Napoleon proceeded rapidly to Paris; where, 
such was the impression of his former achievements, his 
re-appearance was attended with all the accustomed de¬ 
monstrations of reverence and attachment. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


27 2 

His total losses, by capture, up to the 26th of December, 
were stated, in the Russian accounts, at thirteen-hundred- 
and-thirty-nine officers, (amongst whom forty-one were 
generals,) one-hundred-and-sixty-seven-thousand non-com¬ 
missioned officers and privates, and eleven-hundred-and- 
thirty-one pieces of cannon ! 

The king of Prussia now assumed the part of a 
181o ‘ mediator between the belligerent parties. But, his 
proposals for a truce, having met with small attention, he 
took the decisive step of forming an alliance with Alexan¬ 
der; and in a few months they were joined by Austria. 

The French senate having placed at Napoleon’s disposal 
three-hundred-and-fifty-thousand men, he caused the em¬ 
press to be declared regent during his intended absence, 
and in the middle of April departed for the army. Besides 
the imperial guards, his forces were divided into twelve 
corps. The viceroy of Italy (Beauharnois) was appointed 
second in command, and Berthier chief of the staff. The 
several divisions were headed by marshals and generals 
long known in the service, and no traces appeared of the 
Russian disasters. 

Passing over many serious conflicts, sometimes in favour 
of the French, at other times in favour of the allies, follow¬ 
ed by an abortive negotiation, we shall attend to the greater 
operations which succeeded. Hostilities recommenced at 
Dresden ; where the allies were defeated, with considera¬ 
ble loss. The next important contest was at Leipsic; for 
the decision of which, a larger force was assembled, than 
had, perhaps, ever acted, on so confined a theatre. The 
first general attack by the allies, made to the south of the 
town, after much slaughter, left the opposite armies nearly 
in their former position. Two days afterwards, another 
attack was made, on the town itself. In this conflict, the 
French lost seventeen battalions of German auxiliaries, by 
desertion, and forty thousand men in killed, wounded, and 
prisoners. Next day, the 18th of October, Leipsic was 
taken by assault; about two hours before which, Napoleon 
had escaped. The king of Saxony, with all his court,upwards 
of fifty-thousand French troops, and their magazines, artil 
lery, and stores, were taken in the city. In a few weeks 
afterwards, fifty-thousand more surrendered; making a 
total loss, on the side of the French, within a month, of 
one-hundred-and-forty-thousand men; and, within a year, 
adding their losses in the retreat from Moscow, and in 
Spain, of four-hundred-thousand. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 073 

Meanwhile, the victories of Wellington, particularly at 

ittoria and St. Sebastian, had enabled him to drive 'the 
enemy before 1 him and gain a firm footing in France. On 

1814 the l , „ oi rvIarc h, a detachment, commanded by 
marshal Beresford, occupied Bordeaux; where, the 
mayor and principal inhabitants assumed the white cock- 
adf‘, and declared for the Bourbons. 

Notwithstanding the immense losses of Napoleon, which 
enabled his northern pursuers, also, to enter France, the 
result was for some time extremely doubtful. However, be- 
lore the end of February, they arrived in sight of Paris. On 
toe oOth ol March, Joseph Buonaparte, assisted by mar¬ 
shals Marmont and Mortier, took a position on the heights 
near the city, in a long line; the centre of which was pro¬ 
tected by several redoubts, and one-hundred-and-fifty pieces 
ot cannon. An attack being commenced, by the two prin¬ 
ces of Wurtemberg, the French, after an obstinate resist¬ 
ance, were defeated. Paris then capitulated; and on the fol¬ 
lowing day was entered by the allied sovereigns, with their 
guai ds; the most exact order being every where preserved. 

On the first of April, the French senate assembled, and 
formed a provisional government; at the head of which, 
was Talleyrand, prince of Benevento. On the following 
cay, they pronounced, that Napoleon Buonaparte had vio¬ 
lated his compact with the people, that he had forfeited 
the throne, and that the hereditary right established in his 
family was abolished. 

Whilst these great events were transacting, Napoleon, 
learning the danger impending over his capital, moved his 
army from Troyes to Sens; and, arriving at Fromont at 
the time of the last battle, would have reached Paris on 
the same day, had it not been in possession of the allies. 
He then retired to Fontainbleau ; from which, on the 4 th 
of April, he sent a deputation to the senate, offering to 
abdicate in favour of his son. 

# A treaty between the allied powers and Buonaparte was 
signed at Paris ; by the articles of which, in return for his 
renunciation of the crowns of France and Italy, he and Ma 
ria Louisa were to retain the imperial title for life; he was 
to hold the isle of Elba, in full sovereignty, whilst he lived ; 
and the empress was to have the dutchies of Parma, Gues- 
talla, and Placentia, with succession to her son. To this 
treaty, however, the British ministry refused their concur¬ 
rence, further than respected the assignment of Elba and 
the Italian dutchies. 

2 A 


')74 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


When the fallen emperor was on his way to his little in 
mlar dominion, the Bourbon sovereign, now recognised as 
Louis the eighteenth, left his retirement in England, and 
made his solemn entry into Paris. 

The general peace, between France, and the allied pow¬ 
ers of Austria, Russia, Great Britain, and Prussia, was 
signed at Paris on the 13th of May. The principal acqui¬ 
sitions retained by Great Britain, were, Malta, Tobago, St. 
Lucia, and the Isle ol France. In a distinct article between 
Trance and Great Britain, Louis engaged to join his efforts 
with the latter, for procuring the total abolition of the slave 
trade, by all the Christian powers; and to abolish it with 
regard to France at the end of five years. In August, an 
arrangement was concluded with the prince of Orange, 
then restored in Holland, as king of the Netherlands; by 
which, Great Britain retained the Cape of Good Hope, 
Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice. 

Thus, peace was happily restored in Europe. But 
America was still suffering the calamities of war. Great 
Britain and the United States were in the midst of a san¬ 
guinary contest. 


SIXTH PART. 

PEACE OF GHENT. 

THE various decrees of the two great European bellig 
tients, intended to retaliate distress, had been carried to a 
degree so destructive and humiliating, that neutral rights 
were no longer regarded. Acquiescence or submission, on 
the part of those affected, was alike impolitic. That was 
commercial ruin : this, national dishonour. The Embargo, 
and other defensive experiments, in the United States, un¬ 
der the administration of Mr. Jefferson, and the serious ne 
gotiations under his successor, Mr. Madison, had served 
more to inflame than conciliate. It is not entirely agreed, 
which of the rival powers was the most unjustifiable ag¬ 
gressor. I he offended power, however, had a right of 
choosing her antagonist. On the 18th of June, 1812, the 
Congress passed an act, declaring the “ actual existence of 
war between the United States and Great Britain.” 

An attack on Canada was the first grand object of the 
American government. Operations against it commenced 
in July. General Hull entered the upper province, and is- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 275 

sued a proclamation to the Canadians, in a style expressing 
confidence of success. But his campaign endld in disgracf 

hW W M 1S s . oldlers ’ but himself. Having proceeded to 
lo t Malden, he was foiled in his attempts to invest if 

and, when the British general Brock, had collected a force’ 
for its relief, he retired to Fort Detroit; which he surren 
dued, with twenty-five-hundred men, before he gave them 
an opportunity of contending. There ensued in that quar¬ 
tet many severe engagements; in some of which the Ameri 
cans displayed considerable bravery, and evident improve¬ 
ment m discipline On Lake Erie, the American commo- 
doie, I erry, gained a complete victory over captain Bar¬ 
clay; and on Lake Champlain, M’Donough was equally 

iccess u against an English squadron commanded by 
captain Downie. J 

On the Atlantic, the British found in the American frig¬ 
ates an enemy more vigorous than any that they had ever 
encountered. 1 he loss of a few vessels of the same de¬ 
scription, considered in the ordinary way, was of no im¬ 
portance. But the cause of that loss was unusually interest- 
mg. It it proceeded, as the English seamen declare, from 
an effective superiority on the side of the enemy’s ships 
engaged, (a point too delicate for our discussion,) much 
blame attaches to the Admiralty, in subjecting their ves¬ 
sels to surprise. To say more on this subject, is not requir¬ 
ed. It would be improper, and superfluous: improper, as 
tending to animosity; superfluous, as the bravery of either 
nation cannot for a moment be contested. 

I he attack on Washington must always be a subject of 
deep regret. The destruction of the public buildings, in a 
city tendered venerable by so illustrious a name, might well 
accord with the previous barbarities of Cockburn, but form¬ 
ed a lamented contrast to the Peninsular achievements of 
the gallant Ross. Even in revenge for asserted injuries re¬ 
ceived in Canada, the measure was impolitic. The most 
glorious retaliation, on a reflecting enemy, is forbearance. 

In the following month, (Sept. 12,) admiral sir A. Coch¬ 
rane and General Ross made an attack on Baltimore. The 
fleet commenced a tremendous bombardment against Fort 
M’Henry: the army landed at North Point, about eight 
miles below the city. But the utmost efforts of the flee 4 , 
were unable to make the least impression on the fort: and 
the purpose of the attack by land was abandoned; either 
from the loss of the commander, or the expectation of a 
spirited resistance, near the city. As the van-guard wai 


276 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


engaged with the American riflemen, general Ross recciv 
ed a mortal wound, in the breast. Sending for colonel 
Brooke, the second in command, he gave him some instruc¬ 
tions, recommended his young children to the protection 
of his country, and exclaiming, “ My dear wife,” expired 

The war with the United States being extremely unpop¬ 
ular in the British empire, injurious to her commerce and 
manufactures, and, since the continental pacification, easily 
concluded, proposals of peace were made, in a letter from 
lord Castlereagh, and accepted by the American President. 
The commissioners at Ghent having, after a long negotia¬ 
tion, come to an agreement, a treaty of peace and amity 
was signed on the 24th of December; which was after¬ 
wards ratified by both governments. The articles of this 
treaty related chiefly to the disputes respecting bounda¬ 
ries ; for the determination of which it was agreed that 
commissioners should reciprocally be appointed. Both 
parties covenanted to persevere in their efforts for the abo¬ 
lition of the slave-trade, but no notice was taken of the 
circumstances which had occasioned the war.* 

This year was rendered memorable by a concourse of 
illustrious visiters to the English capital; in number and 
rank surpassing any modern example; at the head of whom 
were the emperor of Russia and his sister, and the king of 
Prussia with his two sons. 

The administration had now leisure to contemplate the 
situation of the country; which, even the return of peace 
had not restored to internal happiness, or commercial pros¬ 
perity. The sudden change, from hostile to pacific rela¬ 
tions, produced, in every class, a degree of pecuniary dls 
tress, unequalled even at the commencement of the war. 
—The annual expenditure exceeded seventy-five-millions: 
the funded debt of the nation, eight-hundred-millions ster- 
ling.—The navy comprised above one-thousand vessels; 
of which, more than one-hundred were of the line, and 
above three-hundred were frigates. 


* The most important military event that occurred between the 
belligerents, after the signing of the treaty, was an abortive attack 
on New Orleans. In this, (on the 8th of January, 1815,) the British 
loss amounted to at least two-thousand, in killed, wounded, and pris¬ 
oners : amongst the slain were general Packenham, the commander, 
and general Gibbs. The Americans were commanded by general 
Jackson; and displayed extraordinary coolness, and uncommon ac¬ 
curacy of fire. 


HISTORY CF ENGLAND. 


277 


SEVENTH PART. 

REASCENSION AND SECOND DETHRONE¬ 
MENT OF NAPOLEON. 

ISi5 FAMILIES who had been disjoined by a war of 
* 11101X3 than twenty years, awaited, with delightful an¬ 
ticipation, a re-union. The soldier who had exchanged the 
bloom of youth for the silvery hairs of age, hastened to 
view the country of his bh*th, and enjoy a long continued 
peace. But, the field which had been abandoned, was yet 
to be regained. The banners, which necessity had furled, 
were again raised, when opposition was withdrawn. The 
meteor, which had illumined by its splendor, and amazed 
by its rapidity, ivas not extinguished. Napoleon emerged 
from his political eclipse, and made another revolution. 

The terms on which Louis had ascended the throne of 
France, he did not faithfully observe. Questions had been 
debated in the legislative chambers, particularly those rel¬ 
ative to emigrants’ property and the freedom of the press, 
which, though carried, there, in favour of the court, were 
determined on other principles, by the nation. Nor, was 
the idea of being ruled by a dynasty, restored by foreign 
arms, the least revolting to their feelings; nor, the army as 
contented to remain inactive under an imbecile monarch, 
as desirous to aid a venerated chieftain in retrieving their 
military honour. Napoleon was not unapprized of the gen¬ 
eral wish. On the 26 th of February, under the shade of 
evening, he left Elba, in a sloop of war, with 1100 men, 
chiefly of his old guard; and, on the 1st of March, landed 
in the small port of Juan. On the 7 th, after meeting a tri¬ 
fling resistance near Antibes, he was joined by the garrison 
at Grenoble, and on the 9 th, by the troops at Lyons. When 
he reached Auxerre, he was strengthened by marshal Ney 
with 12,000 men. This step was decisive. All confidence 
in the army being lost, the king and royal family left Paris 
on the 19 th; which was entered, on the following day, by 
Napoleon, without having had occasion to fire a musket. 

But, it was not to be expected, that those powers which 
had united in dethroning him, would acquiesce in this re 
sumption. In the same month, Austria, Russia, Great 
Britain, and Prussia, determined, each, to keep in the field 
150,000 men, until he should be again expelled. 

2 A 2 


278 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

From the commencement of the alarm, troops had been 
unremittingly sent from England, into Belgium ; to iein- 
force the British garrisons already there: and the duke of 
Wellington had arrived as commander of these, and of the 
auxiliaries in that country. I he principal French army 
was, at this time, posted at Avesnes, in Flanders. Buona¬ 
parte, after promising a free constitution to the I' rench 
people, left Paris on the 1.2th of June. He determined to 
attack the British and Prussian armies, whilst the Austri* 
ans and Russians were yet too distant to afford them suc¬ 
cour. On the 15th, he drove in the Prussian posts upon the 
Sambre; and the next day, defeated their chief, marshal 
Blucher, on the heights betvveeiwBrie and Sombref. In the 
mean time, lord Wellington had directed his whole army 
to advance on Quatre Bras ; where, the first division, under 
general Picton, had arrived ; followed by a corps under the 
command of the duke of Brunswick, and by the, troops of 
Nassau. It was the duke of Wellington’s desire, to afford 
assistance to Blucher; but, he was, himself, attacked, by a 
large body of cavalry and infantry, with a powerful artil¬ 
lery, undei marshal Ney, before his own cavalry had arriv¬ 
ed. A warm action ensued. The repeated charges of the 
French were steadily repulsed: yet, considerable loss was 
suffered, including the duke of Brunswick. 

Blucher retreated, during the night, to Wavre; and lord 
Wellington made a corresponding movement to Waterloo; 
his left communicating slightly with the Prussians. 

Napoleon was now entering his fiftieth battle; in forty- 
nine of which, he had been victorious. But, in none of these 
had he encountered Wellington. The meeting must have 
been full of solicitude to both. On the morning of the 18th 
of June, he assembled his whole force, nearly equal, in num¬ 
ber, to Ins enemy, consisting of 70,000 veterans, and 240 
cannon, upon a range of heights opposite to the British 
army; with the exception of one division, under marshal 
Grouchy; which had been detached to observe, and pre¬ 
vent the junction of the Prussians. At ten o’clock, Napo- 
I on began the action, by a furious attack on Hougomont; 
which was renewed, by different efforts, during the entire 
day ; but resisted with so much firmness, that the position 
was effectually maintained. At. the same time, he kept up 
a heavy cannonade against the wnole British line; and 
made repeated charges on several other points, which were 
uniformly repulsed, except at the farm-house of La PI aye 
Sainte. Late in the evening, a desperate effort was made 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


279 


near that place, against the left of the centre. This pro¬ 
duced a severe contest. For a time, it appeared dubious, 
whether the resistance would be effectual. But the English 
were at length relieved. A distant cannonade was heard 
The Prussians appeared, and the right flank of the enemy 
retreated. Wellington seized the moment, and advanced 
his whole line of infantry, supported by cavalry and artil¬ 
lery. The French were soon forced from every position 
and Hed in the utmost confusion; leaving on the field of 
battle 150 pieces of cannon, with their ammunition. They 
were followed by the victors, until long after dark ; when, 
the pursuit was continued by the Prussians. Nothing could 
be more complete than the discomfiture of Napoleon’s 
army; of which, the remains, consisting of about 40,000, 
partly without arms, and carrying with them no more than 
twenty-seven pieces of artillery, made their retreat through 
Charleroi. 

This, was the issue of the battle of Waterloo. But, such 
a victory, over so brave an enemy, could not be cheaply 
purchased. In no action, of the previous war, had so many 
British officers been slain. Two generals, Picton and Pon- 
sonby, besides four colonels, were killed; nine generals and 
five colonels were wounded; and, the total number, killed 
and wounded, of the British and Hanoverians, was above 
12 , 000 . 

Finding that all was lost, Napoleon hastened back to 
Paris; and, assembling his council, requested to be made 
dictator. This desire being, however, resisted by La Fay¬ 
ette, and other leading members of the legislature, Buona¬ 
parte, perceiving that he was no longer the object of pub¬ 
lic confidence, issued a declaration ; in which, “ offering 
himself a sacrifice to the hatred of the enemies of France,” 
he proclaimed his son emperor, by the title of Napoleon 
the second. The nomination of his son was not so readily 
accepted, as the abdication of himself; and commissioners 
repaired to the allied armies, with proposals of peace. 
The victors, however, would treat only under the walls of 
Paris. They accordingly advanced ; and entered that city, 
after considerable opposition from the adjoining heights, 
followed by a capitulation, on the 3d of July. 

Thus, was the capital of France a second time in posses¬ 
sion of the allies. 

Buonaparte was, in the mean time occupied with the 
care of his own safety; endeavouring to gain a sea-port, 
and embark for the United States. Accompanied by a 


280 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


general, he arrived at Rochfort. The place, however, be 
ing closely watched by English cruisers, after some at¬ 
tempts to elude their vigilance, he determined to throw 
himself on British protection. On the 15th of July, he 
went, with his suite and baggage, on board the Bellerophon 
man of war, captain Maitland. Upon intelligence of this 
event reaching the allied sovereigns, it was determined that 
he should be carried, as a state prisoner, to St. Helena; a 
British island in the southern Atlantic: there, to be retain¬ 
ed, under the strictest guard, within specified limits for 
recreation. Accordingly, the Bellerophon sailed for Tor- 
bay: where, the dangerous captive, with a few of his most 
attached adherents, was transferred to the Northumberland, 
captain sir George Cockburn; who conveyed him to his 
destined abode. 

At this time, fell also Murat, a brother-in-law of Napo¬ 
leon. He had been suffered to remain as king of Naples; 
the only individual that was allowed to continue as sove¬ 
reign, except Bernadotte, now on the throne of Sweden, of 
all the friends who had risen with his elevation. Being 
defeated by the Austrians, and taken prisoner, by his own 
subjects, in Calabria, he was condemned by a military com¬ 
mission, and shot. Lucien, Jerome, and Louis Buonaparte, 
are settled in different parts of the European continent, 
and Joseph resides in the United States. 

A portion of the great naval strength of England, was 
in the following year employed in a most beneficial duty 
The barbarians who occupy the immense northern coast of 
Africa, were compelled to abandon their inhuman piracies. 
The United States had nobly caused them to respect her 
vessels: Britain was now called on to achieve, for the other 
civilized nations, what they were unable to accomplish for 
themselves. The Barbary corsairs seldom or never mo¬ 
lested British ships or subjects : since the first treaty made 
with the barbarians, in the reign of Charles the second, no 
English vessel had been captured by their public ships of 
war, nor had any English subject been made a slave. But 
the forbearance was, in some measure, purchased. Great 
Britain had been paying them a disgraceful tribute. This, 
however, the existing spirit of the age required should be 
discontinued, and the practice of sea-plunder and enslaving 
relinquished, as regarded every nation of the world. Lord 
Exmouth (admiral Pellew) was accordingly despatched with 
a fleet, to j unis and 1 ripoli; at which places, he was com¬ 
pletely successful: a treaty w as signed, without a battle 


HISTORY OF EiNGRAND. 


2 SI 


But, the dey of Algiers was more powerful. He would 
agree only to a part of the proposed terms. The admiral, 
therefore, returned to England, and sailed with a more 
commanding force: in all, seven ships of the line and a 
proportional accompaniment of frigates and gun-boats; 
supported by a fleet of the Netherlands, under admiral 
Capellan. Exmouth entered the bay of Algiers on the 27th 
of August; and, having anchored within fifty yards of the 
mole, in front of their tremendous batteries, mounted with 
cannon of unusual size, and defended by 50,000 men, con 
tinued, with uninterrupted fury, for nearly three hours, so 
destructive a storm of shells and bullets, that their contig¬ 
uous works were entirely ruined, and 7000 of the garrison 
killed or wounded. The dey was completely humbled. The 
loss of the brave assailants was, however, lamentably great 
No squadron, had been, at any time, exposed in so awful a 
situation But, the consequences of the victory were more 
cheering, than its effects to be lamented. The dey imme¬ 
diately restored to liberty above a thousand captives, re¬ 
funded all the money which he had previously received for 
ransoms, bound the state to relinquish piracy for ever, and 
the practice of condemning prisoners to slavery. Thus, 
was accomplished, an achievement, in attempting which, 
the emperor, Charles the fifth, had lost 150 vessels, and 
expended the lives of 30,000 men; which had, three several 
times, in the reign of the first James, baffled even the Eng¬ 
lish navy; and agaAi, a numerous fleet under admiral Du 
Quesne; when, the dey committed the atrocious act of 
binding the French consul to the mouth of a mortar, and 
firing him off' amongst the bombarding squadron. 

Britain had acquired a large share, of military glory, 
by these signal triumphs: but her internal situation soon 
afterwards became alarming. Her taxation is enormous ; 
the difficulty of employing her population, was greater, 
then, than it had ever been known before. Dissatisfaction 
to the government was annually increasing. The meetings, 
under the influence of such leaders as Hunt and Watson, 
Thistlewood and Wooler, caused serious alarm, even tc 
patriots of established reputation : but, the conduct of the 
armed yeomanry, who assailed, with deplorable effect, a 
vast assemblage of both sexes at Manchester, has branded, 
with everlasting infamy, not only themselves, but the san¬ 
guinary magistrates, by whose orders the murders were 
committed. 

The princess Charlotte, only daughter of the regent, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


OQO 

♦ 

and presumptive heiress of the crown, who had been mar¬ 
ried to prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, died, in her twen¬ 
ty-second year, universally lamented. The queen, having 
reached her 75th year, died in November, 1818. 

The king, who had continued since 1811 as only a nomi¬ 
nal sovereign, was insensible to every occurrence. His bodi¬ 
ly health was unimpaired, but his intellectual malady had 
been long confirmed. Corporeal weakness at length be- 
jg 2 Q came visible: he rapidly declined; and, on the 29th 
of January, expired at Windsor, in the 82d year of 
his age, and 60th of his reign. 

The king’s fourth son, the duke of Kent, died only a few 
days before his father. 

Besides five daughters, and the prince of Wales, who has 
succeeded him, under the title of George the fourth, the 
deceased monarch left five other sons; the dukes of York 
and Clarence, Cumberland, Sussex, and Cambridge; the 
first of whom is now presumptive heir to the crown. 

That long protracted warfare, was unable to repress the 
growing spirit of national improvement. Every species ot 
literature, science, and manufacture, was cultivated with 
unceasing ingenuity. Even those manufactures, invented 
and assiduously cherished on the continent, have almost 
invariably admitted of refinement in Great Britain. France 
has been an exceedingly prolific inventor; as an inventor, 
perhaps unrivalled; but she must yield to England the 
character of completing and finishing, with permanent ele¬ 
gance, what she had previously commenced. 

As a scientific manufacturer, Wedgewood has displayed 
most admirable research, in the article of porcelain. This 
sumptuous production was first brought from China and 
Japan, and received its English appellation, (probably 
through the French,) from the Portuguese porcellana, which 
signifies a cup. 1 he illustrious Reaumur, the first who 
attended to its manufacture, as a science, published his 
discoveries in France, at the beginning of the last century; 
but, before that period, it had been brought, in that coun¬ 
try, to considerable perfection. 

No branch of industry ever had more powerful influence, 
In extending the commerce, congregating the inhabitants, 
and, at the same time, corrupting the morals, and increas¬ 
ing the misery of the British, than the Cotton Manufacture. 
It .seems to have reached its highest point of excellence. 
The most ancient mode of spinning, that we can discover, 
was by the distaff, an emblem in the Heathen mythology, 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


283 


From the distaff, the material was drawn by the revolution 
ot a ball, held underneath; which twisted and received the 
thread. W e next perceive the addition of a frame; in 
which, the spindle was supported, and set in motion by a 
band that encompassed a wheel, and received an occasional 
impulse from the hand; forming the domestic machine used 
in spinning wool. To this,followed the common linen-wheel; 
invented in Germany in the year 1530; which possesses the 
advantage of a flyer, and a uniformly steady motion from the 
action of the foot. At length, in 1767, James Hargrave, of 
Blackburn, in Lancashire, constructed a machine, by which 
a great number of threads can be spun at once. This, call 
ed the Jenny, is the best that has hitherto appeared for mak¬ 
ing very coarse weft. About the same time, cylinder card¬ 
ing was introduced; an invention claimed by many indivi¬ 
duals. The next improvement was derived from a clock- 
maker of Bolton. But the fruits of his ingenuity were reaped 
by another; a person named Richard Arkwright, who was 
knighted for the invention. Arkwright followed the busi¬ 
ness of a village tonsor; and, during his morning visits to 
the mechanic, was enabled, by the loquacity characteristic 
of that profession, to become master of the secret. We here 
allude to what is called the Warp-spinning-frame, distin¬ 
guished by the addition of rollers. The latest modification, 
which is perhaps the most important, certainly the most in¬ 
genious, received the name of Mule; by its combining the 
principles of the Jenny and the Warp machine. From this, 
can be produced a thread equal in fineness to the most deli¬ 
cate of India. The first cotton mill erected in England was 
by Arkwright and Hargrave, at Nottingham ; in Scotland, 
by Peter Brotherston, at Pennecuic, near Edinburgh. In 
Ireland, the first twist machinery was made at Greencastle, 
under the direction, and for the use of, Nicholas Grimshaw; 
and the first cotton mill erected (in 1784) at Whitehouse, 
near Belfast, by the latter, in conjunction with Nathaniel 
Wilson. Several of these improvements have been suc¬ 
cessfully applied to the spinning of flax and wool. The 
printing of calicoes held a simultaneous progress, in 
point of extent; and in regard to brilliancy and variety 
of colour, went hand-in-hand with chemistry, its parent 
science. 

Berthollet, a French chemist, has enabled us to curtail 
the time formerly used in bleaching linen a id cotton fab 
rics. The oxygenated muriatic acid, first applied by him 
!o that purpose, will produce as much effec; in a fe*v daysj 



284 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

as the olcl method of atmospherical exposure, in as many 
weeks. 

The Steam-Engine next demands our notice. 1 he hrst 
account of this great invention, is in a book published by 
the marquis of Worcester, in 1663 ; with which nobleman, 
it unquestionably originated. From that period, it has re¬ 
ceived many improvements. Its present high state of ex¬ 
cellence, indeed its application to any purpose, with a due 
degree of economy and effect, is owing to the chemical and 
mechanical knowledge of Mr. Watt, a pupil of Dr. Black. 
He commenced his experiments upon the steam-engine in 
1763, about the time when this great chemist promulgated 
his discovery of latent heat. The greatest mechanical pro¬ 
ject that ever engaged the attention of man, was on the 
point of being executed by this machine. The States ot 
Holland were treating with Bolton and Watt for draining 
the Haerlem Meer, and even reducing the Zuyder-Zee, 
until prevented by their revolution. 

Francis Egerton, duke of Bridgewater, is celebrated as 
the person who began, in England, the cutting ol naviga¬ 
ble canals with locks. Assisted by Brindley, a man of as¬ 
tonishing powers of mind, but without the polish of educa- 
*ion, having surveyed his estate at Worsley, he obtained 
an act of parliament, authorizing him to open a communi¬ 
cation between Manchester and Worsley, and return over 
the river Irwell, to Manchester. Though a solid rock op 
posed their progress, the opulence of the one and genius 
of the other overcame every obstacle. A'iv funnels were 
made through the hill, to discharge the noxious air from 
below; and this great canal was conveyed, not only more 
than a mile under ground, but over an arch forty feet above 
the surface of the Irwell: so that whilst vessels pass through 
the dark subterranean cavity, others sail on the canal above. 
Thus, the coals of the duke’s estate were carried to the 
neighbouring towns, and the commerce of Liverpool Was 
united by the Mersey, to Manchester. 

The year 1782 is remarkable for having produced the 
first effective Air-Balloon. Stephen and John Montgolfier, 
of France, were the successful experimentalists, after many 
suggestions and trials, by various persons, during more 
than a century. Bishop Wilkins, in 1762, undoubtedly 
gave the first hint. His idea was pursued by Cavendish; 
by whom, the specific gravity of inflammable air was as¬ 
certained, and communicated to Doctor Black. The same 
thought afterwards occurred to Cavallo ; who has the hou- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 285 

our of making the first practical experiment; though he 
pioceeded no farther than blowing up soap-bubbles with 
hydrogen gas. The Montgolfier Balloon, however, was 
distended by rarefied air, formed by burning straw and 
wool; not by the hydrogen gas; that having been adopted 
afterwards. Lunardi ascended from London, in 1784: 
Blanchard and Dr. Jefferies made a voyage in a balloon 
from Dover to Calais, in the year following. In the late 
revolutionary war, the French established an ^Erostatic In¬ 
stitute; from which, issued skilful aeronauts, for the use of 
toe armies. Coutel ascended in 1794, accompanied by ail 
adjutant and a general; and conducted the wonderful and 
impoi taut service of reconnoitring the enemy’s manoeuvres 
at the battle ot Fleurus. He remained, at each of two pe¬ 
riods, four hours in the air; and, by means of signals, car¬ 
ried on a correspondence with Jourdan, the commander of 
the French army. I he experiment, however, had nearly 
proxed fatal. His intended ascent had been made known 
to the enemy; who, at the moment the balloon began to 
take its flight, opened the fire of a battery against it. The 
first volley was directed too low; but one ball afterwards 
passed between the balloon and the car. 

1 he mails, which had been previously conveyed on 
horseback, were, since 1784, by the recommendation of 
John Palmer, carried in regularly established coaches: 
three years after the beginning of the great revolutionary 
war, telegraphs were copied from the French plan: in 
1800, the vaccine inoculation was perfected in England, 
by Dr. Jenner: about the same time, public buildings were 
heated by steam, and lighted by carbureted hydrogen gas; 
and Lancaster spread his amazing system of elementary 
school-education. 

In 1787, the British government established the colony 
of Botany Bay; as a residence for convicts. The progress 
of this settlement has been rapid. It has now a population 
of almost 50,000: amongst a large portion of these, the 
cause of transportation is not observable; they have ac¬ 
quired habits of industry and good conduct, and use the 
arts and luxuries of polished states. 

Nearly all Hindostan is at length comprised within the 
British empire. Her colonial subjects number one-hun 
dred-and-fifty-millions; which are computed to be one 
fourth of all mankind, covering a fifth of the habitable globe 

The medical science had many accomplished professors, 
Its greatest ornaments were, Cullen, Cleghorne, Hunter^ 

2 B 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


286 

Smellie, Fordyce, and Mac Bride. In the fine arts, we dis¬ 
tinguish Boydell, Strange, and Woolet, as engravers; Ho¬ 
garth and Barrett, Barry, Stubbs, and Opie, Gainsborough, 
Moreland, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, as painters. Hogarth 
was also conspicuous in the graphic, and Stubbs in the 
anatomical, school. The former, though not remarkable 
for elegance, stands unrivaled for originality of conception 
and strength of expression; either in delineating the fol¬ 
lies, or the dangerous vices, of mankind. On the establish¬ 
ment of the Royal Academy, in 1769, none seemed so well 
entitled to the honourable office of president, as Reynolds ; 
and he was accordingly appointed. Sculpture acquired 
cotemporaneous improvement. Besides the accession of 
foreign talent, England may justly boast of the correct and 
expressive chisel of her native Bacon. In Music, the 
compositions of Arnold and Arne will be admired, whilst 
there remains an ear to appreciate, or feeling to sympa¬ 
thize with harmony. 

At the head of astronomv and mechanics, by universal 
concurrence, is placed James Ferguson; a man who learn¬ 
ed to read by hearing his lather teach his elder brother, 
and, during his whole life, had not above half a year’s in¬ 
struction at school. His “Lectures,” which are so per¬ 
spicuous that they cannot be misunderstood, will be found 
equally instructive and amusing. 

Amongst the dramatic writers are Colman, general 
Burgoyne, Murphy, and Cumberland ; Home, Foot, Gar¬ 
rick, and Dibden. The last three were distinguished also 
as performers. 

Foot was an ever-flowing fountain of colloquial wit. He 
had the misfortune to require a wooden leg. Being once 
on a visit at a friend’s house, near London, at Christmas, 
he found the rigour of the season little softened by the 
influence of a blazing hearth. He resolved to shorten the 
period of his intended stay, and was one morning, very < 
early, preparing to depart. “ What is the matter, my dear 
Foot,” exclaimed his fuel-saving host: “what can be the 
reason of this unexpected hurry?”—“Oh, there is no rea¬ 
son at all ” replied his half-frozen guest; “ only, that as 
coals are so very scarce here, I was afraid that, some 
morning, before I was up, Betty might thrust my right leg 
into the fire.” 

Gai rick was unrivaled for a quick perception of proprie¬ 
ty, and a consequent observance of the ways of nature. He 
was always seen “ to suit the action to the word,” and “ the 




2S7 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

word to the action.” No public speaker, however emi¬ 
nent, was above listening to his precepts, and profiting by 
his example. A young clergyman having requested him 
to notice the manner in which he administered divine ser¬ 
vice, Garrick very kindly attended. On leaving the church 
together, Garrick took hold ol his friend’s arm, whose 
countenance and gait betokened self-applause.—“ Have 
you any urgent business, to attend to, after service ?” in¬ 
quired Garrick. “ No; none at all 1” replied the divines 
u why, do you ask me such a question ?”—I thought you 
had something pressing, from your going up into the pul¬ 
pit in so much haste.—What was that book , on the desk 
before you ?—That book !—why, only the Bible !—“ Only 
the Bible” rejoined his acute monitor: a I thought it had 
been a merchant’s leger, or a journal,—some common ac¬ 
count book, left accidentally in your way, from your toss¬ 
ing it about with so much indifference.” 

In poetry, the most successful candidates for lasting fame, 
are, Falconer, Grainger, and Armstrong; Glover, Mason, 
and Chatterton ; Goldsmith, and Johnson; Churchill, 
Burns, Cowper, Darwin, Beattie, and Walcott. With the 
first five names, it is sufficient to associate, respectively, 
The Shipwreck; A Poem on the Sugar Cane, and a trans¬ 
lation of Tibullus; The Art of preserving Health; Leoni¬ 
das ; Elfrida, and Caractacus. A more extraordinary youth 
has seldom appeared than Chatterton. He published a 
number of poems which he described as written about 
three-hundred years before, by Rowley, a monk of Bristol; 
declaring, that he had received them from his father, 
whose family had held, for nearly one-hundred-and-fifty 
years, the office of sexton of Redclift church ; and that 
they had remained buried in dust, in an old chest, above 
the chapel. 

The Traveller of Goldsmith abounds with animated de 
scription; his Deserted Village exhibits beauties peeuli. 
arly its own, and, for harmony and softness, is not inferior 
to the happiest lines of Pope. Az long as the simple tale 
of indigent nature and suffering humanity can interest 
the heart, so long will the poetry of Goldsmith continue to 
be read. This amiable man studied at Trinity College, 
Dublin ; for which university he was prepared by the Rev. 
Mr. Hughes, of Edgeworthtown, in the county of Long¬ 
ford, the district of his nativity. In his last journey to 
school, he had an adventure, which is thought to have sug¬ 
gested the plot of his admired comedy, She Stoops to Con 



288 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

quer, or the Mistakes of a Night. Some friend had given 
him a guinea; and, in his way to Edgeworth town, (about 
twenty miles from his father’s house,) he ha 1 diverted him 
self by viewing the gentlemen’s seats on the road, until, a» 
the approach of night, he reached a small town, namec 
Ardagh. Here, he inquired lor the “ best house in -the 
place, meaning the best, inn; but, being understood too lit¬ 
erally, he was directed to the house of a private gentleman ; 
where, calling for somebody to take his horse and lead him 
to the stable, he alighted, and was shown into the parlour; 
supposed to be a guest come to visit the master. T he gen¬ 
tleman immediately discovered the mistake; and being a 
man of humour, and also learning from him the name of 
his father, who happened to be his acquaintance, he en¬ 
couraged the deception. Goldsmith accordingly “ called 
about him,” ordered a good supper, and generously invit¬ 
ed the master, his wife and daughters, to partake; treat¬ 
ed them with a bottle or two of wine, and, on going to bed, 
ordered a hot cake to be prepared for his breakfast; nor 
did he, until at his departure, when he asked for. the bill, 
discover, that he had been hospitably entertained in a pri¬ 
vate family. Doctor Goldsmith died in 1772, in his 46th 
year. Many scenes of his life are extremely interesting. 
In his Vicar of Wakefield, the philosophical wanderer is 
supposed to be drawn from his own adventures; and, in his 
Citizen of the World, he gives an account of his worthy 
father, under the character of “ the man in black.” 

Dr. Johnson was born at Lichfield, and died in 1784; 
having attained the age of 75. He studied for about three 
years at Oxford; where his collegiate exercises displayed 
superior powers. He first visited London with his pupil, 
Garrick; who, like himself, was in quest, of employment. 
In 1738, he published his “London,” in imitation of Ju¬ 
venal’s third satire ; which was so favourably received, that 
it passed to a second edition within a week. But, were we 
to consider Johnson merely as a poet, we should form a 
very inadequate estimate of his erudition, talents, and per¬ 
severance. Although his Dictionary of the English Lan¬ 
guage, and his Rambler, are only a small portion of his la¬ 
bours, they are sufficient to elevate him to a high degree of 
fame. The former was published in 1775. The Rambler, 
be continued for two years; writing a Number for every 
Tuesday and Saturday: during which period, he was en¬ 
gaged with his dictionary, only five papers were contribut¬ 
ed by others, and he was frequently distracted by anguish 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


289 


and disease. His dictionary, however, would admit of con¬ 
siderable improvement. The derivations of words, from for¬ 
eign languages are too frequently given from compounds; 
the definitions and examples exhibit rather the various 
senses in which words have been written, than the classical 
acceptation in which they may be used with propriety and 
elegance; a large number have been admitted which are 
obsolete ; and many, of his own forming, that are both use- 
.ess and pedantic. It might, with advantage, be curtailed 
to half its present size.—Johnson has been justly entitled 
the great Moralist. In his Rambler, we perceive the most 
profound and elevated ethics; and the style exhibits the 
English language in its highest state of sublimity and mag¬ 
nificence. But that work was not so splendid or correct, 
on its first appearance. The assertion of Mr. Boswell, his 
minute biographer, is erroneous, when he says that a copy 
printed at Edinburgh, from the periodical papers, “ is the 
most accurate and beautiful edition.” It received, in the 
second and third editions, several thousand alterations; 
many of which seem indispensable, to protect it from the 
animadversions of the most liberal critic. Boswell was 
fond of inflating trifles, and recording even the infirmities 
of his illustrious patron; as if he had despaired of trans¬ 
mitting his name to posterity, by his own merits, but 
sought, like the destroyer of the Ephesian temple, to gain 
associated immortality amongst ruins. 

Robert Burns, though literally a ploughman, rose to high 
poetic fame, by the strong powers of his genius; and was 
soon drawn from his agricultural profession, to the com¬ 
pany of men of letters. Since the days of Shakespeare, 
perhaps not any have portrayed the nice shades of the hu¬ 
man character with so masterly a hand, as Burns: especially 
in those poems written in the Scottish dialect. No readers, 
however, except those of Scotland, or of the northern 
counties of England and Ireland, where that dialect is fa¬ 
miliar, can fully appreciate the beauties of this poet. His 
countryman, Dr. Currie, long known as an eminent physi¬ 
cian in Liverpool, published in 1809, four years after the 
death of Burns, a fine edition of his works; and be¬ 
nevolently assigned the entire profit to his widow and 
children. 

Beattie is deservedly admired for his Minstrel: Cowper, 
for his translation of Homer, in blank verse, and his Task: 
Walcott, for his satires, with the assumed name of Peter 
Pindar. Cowper, is also the author of John Gilpin, a popu- 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


2‘)0 

lar ballad; the story of which was related to him, aa 
amusement in a tedious hour, by his friend Lady Austin. 

Robertson and Gibbon,are to be considered as historians: 
Hume, in addition to the character of historian, ranks high 
in the abstruse philosophy of metaphysics. Of these great 
writers, the last two may be pronounced the more acute 
and elaborate reasoners; the first the most generally es¬ 
teemed. Hume’s great performance, is the History of 
England; Gibbon’s, the Decline and Fall of the Roman 
Empire. The most admired works of Robertson, are the 
History of Charles the fifth, and the History of America. 
Sterne, by his Tristram Shandy, and Sentimental Journey, 
has obtained the honour of introducing a new species of 
composition ; and, whatever may be objected to particular 
passages in these, he stands pre-eminent in awaking the 
noblest sympathies of the human heart. Besides the writ¬ 
ings which Blair and Paley have left, connected with re¬ 
ligion, the former has given us the most valuable lectures 
on rhetoric and belles lettres; the latter, the most popular 
work on moral philosophy, that Great Britain has ever pro¬ 
duced. The English language owes much to the profound 
researches of Bishop Lowth, gon of the eminent divine, 
mentioned in the last reign ; and to John Horne Tooke. In 
his grammar, though it is now nearly obsolete, Lowth has 
shown a philosophical knowledge of our language, and giv¬ 
en a foundation on which subsequent improvements have 
been raised. He is still more eminent for his lectures on 
the sacred Hebrew poetry, delivered at Oxford. Llorne 
Tooke, in his Diversions of Purley, has inquired into the 
derivations of English words, from the Saxon, with extra¬ 
ordinary, and successful, minuteness. He was also one of 
the most active politicians of his day. Having been occa¬ 
sionally of a different opinion from Junius, he opposed him 
with so much ability, that, notwithstanding the powerful 
logic of this unknown author, every unprejudiced reader 
must assign the victory to Horne. Of the powers of mind 
and comprehensive information evinced by Adam Smith, 
his Wealth of Nations will be a memorial to the latest pos¬ 
terity. Graves is the author of lucubrations in prose and 
rhyme, published under the name of Peter Pom fret; and 
of an ingenious performance called the Spiritual Quixote. 
No lawyer ever contributed so much to lessen the difficul¬ 
ties of his profession, as sir William Blackstone. His 
Commentaries are invaluable, and should be studied by 
every gentleman who feels interested in the laws of Eng- 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 29 1 

Lind. In a different walk, lord Kaimcs is almost equally 
distinguished. His elements i f Criticism, and Sketches, 
ai e not less calculated to give amusement than instruction. 

Postlethwaite and Anderson wrote on commercial econo¬ 
my : Grose was equally devoted to antiquities. Hawkes- 
worth is author ol the Adventurer, besides, a Narration of 
Discoveries in the Pacific Ocean; and sir William Jones, 
by his Oriental Researches, has excited very general ad¬ 
miration. The church was adorned by the unrivaled ap¬ 
peals of Kirwan. “ He called forth the latent virtues of 
the human heart, and taught men to discover in themselves 
a mine ol charity, of which their proprietors had been un¬ 
conscious. He came to interrupt the repose of the pulpit, 
and shake one world with the thunder of another.” 

1 he iemale pen, if it did not contribute to the advance¬ 
ment of science, was, at least, conducive to amusement. 
Many females, however, achieved no more than mere com 
mon-place romances. But, the names of More, Hamilton, 
and Inchbald ; Opie and Barbauld ; Williams, Burney, and 
Edgeworth; will be respected : they have combined mo 
rality with recreation.* 

Whilst those were following the retired inclinations of 
the closet, others sought renown by exploring the most 
distant regions of the globe. Of these, some chose the 
burning desert, some the boisterous surface of the deep. 
The one has given celebrity to Bruce and Park; the other 
to Byron, Wallis, Carteret, and Cook. The Royal Society, 
wishing to observe the transit of Venus, over the sun’s 
disk, from some of the islands in the Pacific, captain Cook 
was appointed to command the ship Endeavour. Accom¬ 
panied by sir Joseph Banks, Dr. Solander, and Mr. Green, 
he reached Otaheite in April, 1769 ; the place where the 
observations were to be made. In his third voyage round 
the world, after making many useful discoveries, he was 
killed in a quarrel with the natives of Owyhee, one of the 
Sandwich Islands, in 1779. 

Every one is familiar with the name of Howard, the cele 
brated philanthropist. On his way to Lisbon, to view the 
dreadful consequences of an earthquake which destroyed 
^ that city in the year 1755, being captured by a French pri¬ 
vateer, the severities of confinement he endured in France, 
excited that sympathy for suffering captives, which has 
rendered his memory so illustrious. A statue, erected in 

* Several of these accomplished females are still living. 




292 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


St. Paul’s, represents him in a Roman dress, holding in 
one hand a scroll of writings on the improvement of pris¬ 
ons, and in the other, a key; whilst he tramples upon 
chains and fetters. 

Two remarkable instances of longevity are noticed 
Colonel Winslow died, in Ireland, aged 146, and Consest, 
in England, at the yet more patriarchal age of 150 years 

Architecture, useful as well as ornamental, has in thi 
reign employed very general attention. Black Friar’s 
Bridge, in London, combines both utility and elegance. 
The first stone of this important means of communica¬ 
tion, which is eleven-hundred feet long, and was finished 
at an expense of more than one-hundred-and-fifty-thousand 
pounds, was laid a few days after the late monarch ascend¬ 
ed the throne. The Irish capital, however, especially in 
the Custom-House, on which was expended seven-hundred- 
thousand, and the Four Courts, which cost five-hundred- 
thousand pounds, exhibits the most classical and magnifi¬ 
cent public buildings, that have been erected, perhaps in 
any country of Europe, since the finishing of St. Paul’s 
cathedral. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND 


CHAPTER XIX. 

GEORGE THE FOURTH. 

FIRST FART. 

His Private History. 1820—1830 

BY the death of his afflicted parent, the regency, after a continuance of 
almost nine years, was at an end, and the Prince of Wales became 
monarch of the British empire, under the title of George IV. 

He was now in the fifty-eighth year of his age, having been born on 
the l‘2th of August, 17G2; a day deemed auspicious by the people of 
England, being the anniversary of the Hanoverian succession to the 
British throne. Princes soon become public personages; and his royal 
highness displayed himself at a sufficiently early age; for in 1765 he 
received a deputation from the Society of Ancient Britons, on St. David’s 
day. The prince’s answer to their address, was certainly not long; for 
it was simply—“ I thank you for this mark of duty to the king, and 
wish prosperity to the charity—though probably an earlier speech has 
seldom been made ; the speaker being not quite three years old. But it 
was not lost upon the courtiers. They declared that it was delivered 
with the happiest grace of manner and action ; and that the features of 
future oratory were more than palpable: all which the flatterers of roy¬ 
alty are bound to believe as true. 

The prince at length reached a period when it became necessary to 
commence his education. In 1771, Lord Holdernesse was appointed 
governor: the preceptors were Dr. Markham and Cyril Jackson. In the 
usual branches of classical education, he was carefully instructed; and 
the prince often afterwards expressed his gratitude to those assiduous 
teachers. But, although the classics might flourish in the princely estab¬ 
lishment, it soon became obvious that peace did not flourish along with 
them. Rumours of discontent rapidly escaped, even from the close con¬ 
fines of the palace; and, at length the public, less surprised than per¬ 
plexed, heard the formal announcement, that the whole preceptorship of 
his royal highness had sent in their resignations. '1 hose disturbances 
were the first and the inevitable results of the system. Lord Holdernesse 
obscurely complained, that attempts had been made to obtain an illegiti 
mate influence over the prince’s mind. Public rumour was active in 
throwing light upon what the courtly caution of the noble governor had 
covered with shade. The foreign politics of the former reigns, the 
Scotch premier (lord North,) and the German blood of the queen, becama 





HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


234 

common topics of reprehension; and it was loudly asserted, that the 
great object of the intrigue was to supersede fne prince’s British princi¬ 
ples, by the despotic doctrines of Hanover. 

A new establishment of tutors was now to be formed for the Prince ot 
Wales. It bore striking evidence of haste; as lord Bruce, who was 
placed at its head, resigned within a few days. Some ridicule was 
thrown upon this rapid secession, by the story that the young prince had 
thought proper to inquire into his lordships attainments, and, finding 
that the pupil knew more of classics than the master, had exhibited on the 
occasion the very reverse of courtiership. Lord Bruce was succeeded 
by the Duke of Montague; with Hurd, bishop of Litchfield, and the 
reverend Mr. Arnald, as preceptors. 

In 1783, at a period of most luxurious and dissolute manners in the 
British metropolis, the Prince of Wales commenced his public career. His 
rank alone would have secured him flatterers; but he had higher titles to 
homage. He was then one of the handsomest men in Europe; his 
countenance open and manly; his figure tall, and strikingly propor¬ 
tioned; his address remarkable for easy elegance, and his whole air sin¬ 
gularly noble. But he possessed qualities which nugnt have atoned for 
a less attractive exterior. He spoke the principal modern languages 
with sufficient skill: he was a tasteful musician; his acquaintance with 
English literature, was, in early life, unusually accurate and extensive. 
Markham’s discipline, and Jackson’s scholarship, had given him a large 
portion of classical knowledge ; and nature had gifted him with the more 
important public talent of speaking with fluency, dignity, and vigour. 

His establishment at Carlton House soon involved him in pecuniary 
embarrassnflnts, from which he was never thoroughly extricated, even 
by the repeated liberality of parliament. Yet, notwithstanding his in¬ 
adequacy of means to his habits of lavish expenditure, he was prevailed 
on to commence the erection of a country seat. Fur this purpose, he 
selected Brighton, then a little fishing village; and. having purchased a 
few acres of ground, he began to build. His first work was a cottage, in 
a field. The prince’s household and visiters gradually increased, and 
there was then no other resource, but in a few additional apartments. 
It was at last found that those repeated improvements were deformities, 
and that their expense would be better employed in making a complete 
change. From this change, grew the present Pavilion; the perpetual 
ridicule of witty tourists, and certainly unsuited in style to its present 
incumbered and narrow site, and perhaps to European taste. Yet the 
happiest hours of the prince’s life were spent in this cottage. The so¬ 
ciety at the Pavilion was remarkably attractive; no prince in Europe 
passed so much of his time in society expressly chosen by himself. The 
prince’s table afforded the display of men too independent, both by their 
place in society, and their consciousness of intellectual power, to feel them¬ 
selves embarrassed by the presence of superior rank. Hare, Jekyll, Fitz¬ 
patrick, and Erskine, with the great parliamentary leaders, were constant 
guests; and the round was varied by the introduction of celebrated for¬ 
eigners and other persons capable of adding to the interest of the circle. 

Some of tne sayings of the prince and his companions are still rc mena¬ 
ce red.— The merit of Hare’s jeux d'esprit was their readiness and their 
oddity.—Fox, after the fall of the coalition ministry, coming to dinner 
at the Pavilion, just as he had returned from London, and apologizing 
frr his appearing in his dishabille, and without powder;—“ Oh,” said 


295 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Hare, « make no apology; our great guns are discharged, and now we 
may all do without powder” 

“ Pleasant news, this, from America,” said he, meeting general Fitz¬ 
patrick on the first intelligence of Burgoyne’s defeat.—The general 
doubted, and replied, “ that he had just come from the secretary of state’s 
olhce, without hearing any thing of it“ Perhaps so,” said Hare, “ but 
take it from me as a flying rumour.” 

. 0n the king’s opening the session of parliament, the prince had gone 
in state, in a military uniform, with diamond epaulettes. At dinner, 
general Doyle came in late, and, to the prince’s inquiry “ whether he' 
had seen the procession 1” answered, that he had been amongst the mob, 
“ who prodigiously admired his royal highness’s equipage.”—“ And' 
did they say nothing else?” asked the prince, who was at this time a 
good deal talked of, from his incumbrances.—“ Yes. One fellow, look¬ 
ing at your epaulette, said, ‘ Tom, what an amazing fine thing the 
prince has got on his shoulders!’—‘ Ay,’ answered the other, 1 fine 
enough ; and fine as it is, it will soon be on our shoulders.’ ”—The prince 
paused a moment, then looked Doyle in the face, and laughing, said, 
“ Ah! I know where that hit came from, you rogue; that could be no¬ 
body’s but yours. Come, take some wine.” 

Curran, the celebrated Irish barrister, was a frequent guest at the 
Pavilion, and all his recollections of it were panegyrical. He said that, 
considered as a test of colloquial liveliness and wit, he had never met 
with any thing superior to the prince’s table; that the prince himself was 
amongst the very first there, and that he had never met any man who 
kept him more on the qui vive. 

The regency question, of which we have spoken in a preceding chap¬ 
ter,* drove the prince from politics. The result was disastrous to him¬ 
self, to the kingdom, and to the king. It abandoned him to pursuits 
still more obnoxious than those of public ambition. It encouraged his 
natural taste for those indulgences, which, however common to wealth 
and rank, are, in all their shapes, hostile to the practical virtues, and 
high-minded purposes of life; and it embarrassed his circumstances, un¬ 
til, pressed by creditors, and entangled by a multitude of nameless 
perplexities, he suffered himself to be urged into a marriage, formed with¬ 
out respect or attachment, and endured in bitterness and vexation, until 
its close. 

The prince’s marriage now became the principal topic. The duke ol 
York had already been married some years, but was still childless; and 
the king-, naturally anxious to see an undisputed succession, and leave 
his descendants masters of the throne, strongly urged the heir-apparent 
to select a wife from the royal families of Europe; and thus give a 
pledge to the empire, of that change of habits, and that compliance with 
the popular wish, which, in those days of revolution, might even bo 
essential to the public safety.—In an evil hour, without affection on 
either side, he consented to give his hand to his cousin, Caroline Amelia 
Elizabeth, daughter of the duke of Brunswick, and niece to his majesty 
George III., then in her twenty-fifth year; and on the 8th April, 1795, 
the nuptial ceremony was performed at St. James’s palace. 

’J'he royal marriage was inauspicious. Through the insidious man¬ 
agement of Lady Jersey, one of the female favourites of the Prince of 


4 Page 234. 


296 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Wales, a partial separation was effected; and it was soon rumoured, 
that the disagreements of habit and temper, on both sides, were too 
strong, to give any hopes of their being reconciled. 

The king still interposed his good intentions, and desired that the 
princess should, at least, reside under the same roof with her husband. 
She had apartments at Carlton House, while the prince spent his time 
chiefly at Brighton. But Charlton, a village near Blackheath, was 
finally selected for her residence; and there, with the princess Charlotte, 
her daughter, who was born on the 7th January, 1796, and some ladies 
in attendance, she lived for several years ; not, however, without drawing 
upon herself serious imputations in relation to her private conduct. 


SECOND PART. 

Thistlewood Conspiracy .— Death of Henry Grattan .— Trial of the 
Queen .— Coronation.—Death of the Queen .— Visit of the King to 
Ireland , and to Hanover. 

THE situation of the country, at the commencement of the year 1820, 
was more tranquil than the violent popular agitation of the preceding 
months had given reason to expect. 

The death of a sovereign generally gives birth to many hopes and 
fears, in the bosoms of different persons, and to various speculations con¬ 
cerning the line of conduct likely to be pursued. New prejudices, and 
new connexions begin to exert an influence upon public affairs. If there 
were (as there always must be) any measures of the preceding reign 
unpalatable to a considerable part of the community, a pleasing altera¬ 
tion is expected, from the real or supposed virtues of the new sovereign. 
But these feelings, and these delusions, had no scope at the accession of 
George IV. The new sovereign had already held the reins of power 
for nearly nine years; his character and habits were known ; his public 
policy had long been declared and put into practice; nor was there the 
slightest probability that any alteration would occur, either in the selec¬ 
tion ol those to whom the administration was entrusted, nor in the prin¬ 
ciples on which it was conducted. The royal power was in the same 
hands as before: it was in the title only that there had occurred a 
change. The seals were continued in the hands of lord Eldon; and the 
other cabinet ministers were severally re-appointed to their former offices. 

Though, however, there had appeared no likelihood of a change, yet the 
ministry narrowly escaped a speedy and tragical termination. The con¬ 
spiracy formed for their destruction, was one of the most, atrocious, 
though extraordinary plots, recorded in the annals of any country. Its 
ultimate end was to effect a revolution; its immediate object, the assas¬ 
sination of the ministers. The persons engaged in it were few in num¬ 
ber, low in situation, without knowledge, resources, or foresight. 

The framer of this plot, was Arthur Thistlewood. Born about the 
year 1770, he set out in life originally with some fortune, and with a fair 
proportion of the advantages of education. He had been a subaltern of¬ 
ficer, first in the militia, afterwards in a regiment of the line, stationed in 
the West Indies. After having resigned his commission, and spent 
eoini? time in America, he passed into France, where he arrived shortly 


HISTORY OF'ENGLAND. 207 

after the fall of Robespierre. He had been deeply engaged in tho 
wicked and absurd scheme of Ur. Watson. Having been, like tho 
latter, acquitted, he thought proper, soon afterwards, to send a challengo 
to Lord Sidmouth. That nobleman had recourse to the laws, and 
I histlewood was punished by imprisonment and fine. On his libera¬ 
tion, in August 1819, he found himself in circumstances which stimu¬ 
lated the natural violence and habitual corruption of his disposition. Am¬ 
bitious, without any of those advantages of fortune or of talent, by which, 
in the regular course ol things, ambition can be gratified, he lound him- 
fidf excluded from every respectable class in society, without sources of 
present enjoyment, or hopes of future improvement in his condition. Ho 
now associated only with the most degraded of the lowest class- spend¬ 
ing his time in forming and maintaining connexions with men whose 
poverty and profligacy fitted them for any enterprise. Gradually, he 
collected around him a number of individuals, equally desperate with 
himself, all bent on the destruction of the ministers. Ings, a butcher, 
Tidd and Brunt, shoe-makers; and a man of colour, named Davidson, 
were his principal confidants. After the death of the late king, their 
meetings were held twice a-day, and began to take a more determinate 
aim. At one time, it was proposed, that, availing themselves of the ab¬ 
sence of the greater number of the troops, in consequence of the royal 
funeral, they should endeavour to get possession of the metropolis; but 
this scheme was rejected, as not involving the sure destruction of tho 
ministers. At last, it was resolved, at one of their meetings, that poverty 
did not allow them to delay their purposes any longer; and they deter¬ 
mined to murder the ministers, who, it was announced, were to be pre¬ 
sent at a cabinet-dinner at lord Harrowby’s, on Wednesday, the 23d of 
February, at his house in Grosvenor Square. One of the conspirators 
was to go with a note, addressed to lord Harrowby; when the door was 
opened to him, a part of their number were to rush in; and, while some 
seized the servants, and prevented any person from escaping from the 
house, others, forcing their way into the room where the ministers were 
assembled, were to murder them without mercy. It was particularly 
specified, that the heads of lords Sidmouth and Castlereagh were to be 
brought away in a bag. From lord Harrowby’s house, two of their 
number were to proceed to throw fire-balls into the straw-shed of the 
cavalry barracks in King-street, while the rest were to co-operate in tho 
execution of the subsequent parts of the scheme. In the course of the 
day, several of the infatuated wretches met, from time to time, at the old 
place of rendezvous, in a court adjacent to Gray’s-Inn-lane; and, towards 
six in the evening, they assembled in a stable, situated in an obscure 
street, called Cato-street, in the neighbourhood of Edgeware-road. Be¬ 
sides the stable in the lower part, the building contained two rooms 
above, accessible only by a ladder; in the larger of which, a sentinel 
having been stationed below, the conspirators mustered, to the numbe- 
of about twenty-five; all busy in adjusting their accoutrements, by the 
scanty light of one or two candies, and exulting in the near approach of 
the bloody catastrophe. 

All these machinations, however, were known to the very men, whom 
they hoped, within an hour, to see lying butchered at theii feet. One of 
the conspirators, Edwards, had, for some time, been in the pay of govern 
meat, to whom, lie communicated every step that was taken. The 
ministers made no movement that might deter or alarm the ruffians. 


298 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


The preparations for the dinner proceeded at lord Harrovvby’s house 
until eight in the evening, though, in fact, no dinner was to be given. 

In the mean time, a strong party of Bow-street constables proceeded to 
Cato-street, where they were to be met and supported by a detachment 
of the Coldstream guards. The police officers reached the spot about 
eight o’clock. They immediately entered the stable, and, mounting the 
ladder, found the conspirators in the loft, on the point of proceeding, to 
the execution of their scheme. The principal officer called upon them 
to surrender. One of the constables, pressing forward to seize Thistle- 
wood, was pierced by him through the body, and immediately fell. The 
lights in the loft were now extinguished; some of the conspirators rushed 
down the ladder, and the officers along with them; others forced their 
way out through a window in the back part of the building. At this moment 
the detachment cf the military arrived, rather later than the precise time 
fixed. Two of the conspirators, who were in the act of escaping, were 
seized ; nine more were taken that evening, and conveyed to prison 
Thistlewood was amongst those who had escaped ; but he was arrested 
the next morning, in bed ; and some others were seized in the course ol 
the next two days. Thistlewood, and his companions, Ing, Brunt, 'I'idd, 
and Davidson, were severally tried, convicted, and executed; six more 
of the conspirators pleaded guilty ; five of whom were transported for 
life: and one, who appeared to have joined the conspirators in Cato- 
street, without being aware of its tragical purpose, received a pardon. 

The new parliament assembled on the 20th April. Mr. Manners Sut¬ 
ton was again elected speaker of the house of commons; and on the 
27th, the king opened the session in person, by delivering a speech from 
the throne. 

In the course of the session, the house was deprived of one of its most 
eminent members. Mr. Grattan had come over from Ireland, to take 
his seat once more, for the especial purpose of advocating the claims of 
the Roman Catholics. On his arrival in London, he found himself in a 
weak state of health, which rendered him incapable of exertion ; his in¬ 
firmities increased, and he expired, without having again appeared in 
that house which he had so often instructed and delighted. The claims 
of the catholics was the last subject that occupied his thoughts : and, in 
his dying hour, he exhorted them, how often soever they might be dis¬ 
appointed, to abstain from taking any part in the dissentions that might 
be caused by existing differences in the royal family ; and never tc 
make common cause with the abettors of radical reform and universa. 
suffrage. 

Mr. Grattan may be considered as the last of those celebrated parlia 
mentary orators, who dignified the close of the eighteenth, and the com¬ 
mencement of the nineteenth century. He had been the cotemporary 
and the rival of Pitt, of Fox, of Sheridan, of Windham, and, if he 
did not surpass them as orators, he exhibited at least a peculiar spe¬ 
cies of brilliant eloquence, in which he had no equal. In losing him, 
the house of commons was deprived, not only of one of its most distin¬ 
guished individuals, but of the last member of one of the most illustrious 
band of orators that it had ever possessed, at any one time. 

Mr. Grattan’s son came fonvard as a candidate for the vacancy in the 
representation of the city of Dublin, caused by his father’s death; but 
he was successfully opposed by Mr. Ellis, one of the masters of the Irish 
chancery 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 299 

No rank can expect to be free from the common visitations of life; 
and George the b ourth, always much attached to his relations, had suf¬ 
fered, within a few years, the loss of his royal mother;* of his brother, 
the duke of Kent,f only a week before the death of his father; and of 
his daughter, the Princess Charlotte;^ all regretted by the nation; but 
the loss of the last creating an unexampled sorrow. 

But he had scarcely ascended the throne, when perplexities of a more 
narassing kind awaited him. The Princess Caroline, his consort, who 
had long resided in Italy, announced her determination of returning to 
England, and demanding the appointments and rank of queen. Her life 
abroad had given rise to the grossest imputations; and her presiding at 
the court ot England, while those imputations continued, would have 
been intolerable. But the means adopted to abate the offence, argued a 
singular ignorance of human nature. Lord Liverpool was utterly un¬ 
equal to the emergency : always, hitherto, a feeble, unpurposed, and 
timid minister, he now assumed a preposterous courage, and defied this 
desperate woman. He had even the folly to bring her to trial; with 
what ultimate object, is inconceivable. That he could not have obtained 
a divorce, the reason was obvious ; because she could easily have recrimi¬ 
nated upon her husband. If she had been found guilty, he could neither 
have exiled, nor imprisoned her; his only resource must have been her 
decapitation ; yet he knew that the people of England would have risen 
indignantly against so cruel and horrid a sentence. There was but one 
alternative remaining—to be defeated. 

The queen was probably a criminal, to the full extent of the charge 
But there had been so long a course of espionage, which the English 
mind justly abhors: the practices against her had been so shameful, and 
the details of the evidence were so repulsive, that the crime was forgotten, 
in the public scorn of the accusers. The feeling, however suppressed in 
the higher ranks, had its full operation with the multitude; and while 
the ministers were constrained to steal down to the house of lords, or 
were visible only to receive all species of insults from the mob, the queen 
went daily to her trial in a popular triumph. Her levees at Branden- 
burgh House, a small villa on the banks of the Thames, where she 
resided for the season, were still more triumphant. Daily processions of 
the people filled the road. The artisans marched with the badges of their 
callings; the brotherhoods of trade; the masonic lodges; the friendly 
societies; all the nameless incorporations, which make their charters 
without the aid of office, and give their little senates laws, down to tho 
fish-women; paid their respects, in full costume; and assured her ma¬ 
jesty, in many a high flown piece of eloquence, of her “ Hving in the 
hearts of her faithful people.” 

Concession after concession was forced from ministers. The title of 
queen was acknowledged; and finally, on the 10th of November, the 
earl of Liverpool, defeated in the house of lords, and become an object 
of outrageous detestation to the populace, admitted that he could pro 
ceed no further, and withdrew the prosecution. The announcement was 
received with a roar of victory in the house of commons : the sound was 
caught by the multitude, and London was filled with acclamations. 

The graver judgment of the country regretted, that, by the rashness 
which sufl'ered a question of individual vice to be mingled with one of 


J"th Nov. 181& 


t 23d Jan. 1820. 


I Gtb Nov 1817 



300 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


public principle, the crime received the sanction which belonged only to 
the virtue. Rut the deed was done; and the only hope now was, that 
it might be speedily forgotten. Cut this the queen would not suffer • 
the furious passions of the woman were still ur.appeased. She took a 
house within sight of the palace, that she might present the perpetual 
offence of her mobs to the royal eye : she libelled the king ; she pursued 
him to public places; and persevered in this foolish vindictiveness, until 
she completely lost the sympathy of the people. At length, she deter¬ 
mined to insult him at the coronation, in the presence of his nobles, and 
in the highest ceremonial of his throne. 

The heavens were most propitious to the celebration of this splendid 
Mid interesting ceremony. Never was there seen a calmer or more bril¬ 
liant morning. At the early hour of four, on the 19th of July, the door 
of Westminster Hall was opened to the crowd. We shall endeavour to 
give a picture of the Hall, as it was then beheld. The reader must 
imagine a long and lofty room, (the longest and widest in Europe, we 
believe, without the support of pillars) lined with two tiers of galleries 
covered with red cloth, and carpeted down the middle with broad-cloth 
of blue. At the very end, facing the north, were erected two gothic 
towers, with an archway, which led to Palace Yard, and over this was a 
huge gothic window. The tables for the fi ast extended on each side; 
and at the head, on a raised platform, was a bright gold throne, with a 
square table standing before it, on which was a costly blue cloth, 
worked with gold. Doors on each side led up to the galleries. The 
dark fretted roof, from which hung bright chandeliers, was an admirable 
relief to the whole. Along the cloth-covered pavement, all was life, and 
eagerness, and joy, and hope. Here, were to be seen the pages putting 
back a cluster of plumed beauties, with a respectful determination and 
courtly haste:—there, a flight of peeresses, feathered, and attired in white, 
winging their way, as though in hopeless speed, like birds to their 
allotted dove-cotes. In one place, you might, behold some magnificent 
soldier, half in confusion, half in self-satisfaction, pausing, in bewildered 
doubt and pleasure,over his own splendid attire:—in another, those who 
had readied their seats were sighing happily, adjusting their dresses, 
and gazing around with delight at the troubles of others below them. 
The light streamed in at the great window, like a flood of illumined 
water, and touched every plume, and every cheek. Expectation seemed 
to have given a bloom of life to each female countenance, as if to com¬ 
pensate for the ravages endeavoured to he made by broken rest and 
fatigue. Some of the royal family were seated in the state-box, ^t. a 
very early hour. Over the royal box, sat the ladies of the principal offi¬ 
cers of state; and immediately opposite, were the foreign ambassadors and 
their suites. About seven o’clock, Miss Fellowes (his majesty’s herb- 
woman) with her hand-maids in white, was conducted into the hall, and 
took her seat at the lower end. 

The hall now rapidly filled, not with mere visiters only, but with 
Knights, and pages, and noble serving men, all in the richest drosses. 
The barons of the cinque-ports rehearsed the ceremony of bearing the 
gold canopy down the hall; exciting, in no small degree, the mirth ol 
I lie company; for they staggered along at most uneven paces; and one 
splendid personage in powder could not walk straight, so encumbered 
was he with a sense of his own magnificence. 

The imercstnow manifestly decnened at every moment, and not a plume 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 301 

m the galleries was still. At length, the judges, the law-officers, the 
gentlemen of the privy chamber, the aldermen of London, and the king’s 
chaplam, entered the hall and gave sign of preparation. The Knights 
he Baih in splendid dresses, arranged themselves at the lower end of 
the hall. I he officers attendant on the knights commanders, wore crim¬ 
son satin vests, ornamented with white; and over these a white silk 
mantle I hey also wore ruffs, chains, and badges. Their stockings 

,r%°fn Whlte 81 *’ Wlth l Crifnson rost ’ s - The Knights Commanders of 
the Bath wore the prevalent costume of the day— a la Htnri Quatre— 

wttn ruffs, and hats turned up in front. Their vests and slashed planta¬ 
tions were of white satin, overspread with small silver Jace; their cloaks 
were short, of crimson satin, embroidered with the star of the order and 
lined with white. 1 heir hall-boots were of white silk, with red heels 
crimson satin tops, and crimson roses; their spurs were of gold- theii 
sword-belts and sheathes, white; and their hats were black, with’white 
ostrich feathers. 1 he dress of the knights grand crosses had all the 
beauty of the knights commanders, with rather more magnificence - it 
being, in all respects the same, except, that for the short cloak was sub¬ 
stituted an ample flowing mantle, and for the feathers a larger and loftier 
plume. 

The privy counsellors were dressed in blue satin and gold. 

The doors of the hall, which had been opened, were suddenly closed • 
and there was a confused murmur amongst the persons at the gateway’ 
which was soon circulated and explained, by a buzz of “ the queen! the 
queen ! !” Some of the attendants were, for the moment, alarmed ; and 
the ladies were, for an instant, disturbed with an apprehension of some 
mysterious danger;—but the queen soon retired, the gates were pre¬ 
sently re-opened, and all proceeded as gayly as before. 

The peers now poured in from behind the throne, robed in crimson 
velvet, with ermine tippets, and rich coronets. The royal dukes also en¬ 
tered, and took their seats on each side of the throne. At about half¬ 
past nine, the names of the peers were called over by one of the heralds 
and the order of their procession was arranged. 

The long expected moment arrived; and the people arose with 
waving handkerchiefs, and lofty voices, to greet the entrance of tho 
king. His majesty advanced, arrayed in a stately dress. On his head 
was a rich purple velvet cap, jewelled, and adorned with a plume of os¬ 
trich feathers. His robe was of crimson velvet, spreading amply abroad, 
and studded with golden stars. Eight young noblemen supported the* 
train. The king looked down his hall of state with a proud expression 
of delight; and the eyes of the attendant ladies seemed to sparkle thrice 
-ividly, with the consciousness of their being the living lights and jewels 
of the scene. 

The whole arrangements for the procession being perfected, the duke 
of Wellington, as lord high constable, and lord Howard of Effingham, 
as earl marshal, ascended the steps of the platform, and stood at the 
outer side of the table, while the train-bearers stationed themselves on 
each side of the throne. 

The three swords were then presented by the lord chamberlain, and 
the officers of the jewel office; and the gold spurs were, in like manner, 
delivered, and placed upon the table. The noblemen and bishops who 
were to bear the regalia having been summoned, the several swofd*. 

2 c 2 





302 


HISTORY OI- ENGLAND. 


sceptres, the orb, and crown, were delivered to them separately, and the 
procession immediately began to move. The martial music heralded the 
cavalcade along; and the procession itself seemed one stream of varying 
8nd exquisite colour. It. poured forth through the gray gothic arch at 
the end of the hall, in slow, solemn, and brilliant beauty, and nothing 
could surpass the gorgeous effect of the whole scene. 

The king left his throne, and descended the steps of the platform. The 
splendid golden canopy, of which we have before spoken, awaited his 
majesty at the foot of the steps; but he walked under it, and past it, and 
so continued to precede it until he left the hall. His course was magni¬ 
ficent, down the thronged avenue into the open air;—the ladies stand¬ 
ing up with waving handkerchiefs, and the brilliant attendants thronging 
around the sovereign, with busy pride, and a restless consciousness of 
their glory ; while the king looked about him with marked delight, and 
eniiled on his people. 

The hall was soon nearly half emptied, by those who had tickets to 
view the solemn ceremony of the crowning in the abbey. The proces¬ 
sion was ushered into the gateway by Miss Fcllowes, and her group ot 
young ladies in white, scattering flowers. On the king’s canopy ap¬ 
pearing, a universal shout arose, and the coronation anthem was com¬ 
menced :—“ T was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the 
house of the Lord.”—The full chorus was awfully sublime, and thrilled 
all hearers, while the august crowd poured magnificently forward ; the 
canopy stopped at the chancel, and his majesty advanced to the sacra- 
rium, attended by the officers bearing the regalia. 

The king now stood up, and the archbishop of Canterbury turned on 
all sides to the people, saying, “ I present you King George "the Fourth, 
the undoubted king of this realm ; wherefore all you that come this day 
to do him homage, are you willing to do the same V’ —The shout was 
sublime—the multitude standing up, and waving caps and handker¬ 
chiefs for several minutes, while the plumes tossed about in the chancel 
and transept, like a brilliant stormy sea. 

Certain services were now performed, and, after short prayers were 
said, a sermon was delivered by the archbishop of York. The corona¬ 
tion-oath was next administered to the king; when, arising out of his 
chair, supported as before, he went to the altar, and there, being un¬ 
covered, made his solemn oath, in the sight of all the people, to observe 
the promises; laying his right hand upon the holy gospel in the great 
bible, which had been carried in the procession, and was now brought 
from the altar by the archbishop, and tendered to him as he knelt upon 
the steps, saying these words;— 

“ The things which I have beforo promised, I will perform and keep; 
So help me God.” 

Now followed the anointing, succeeded by two anthems; and. after 
o her ceremonies, the king sat dowm in Ldward’s Chair, and was crowned 
by the archbishop. At this moment, the shouts of the people had a fine 
eflect. The trumpets sounded forth their martial music, and the guns of 
tne Lark and of the Tower were instantaneously fired. 

His majesty w^as now borne to his throne, by the bishops and peers 
around him. Homage was then done by the peers; after which cere¬ 
mony, each class or degree going by themselves, they all, one by one, in 
order put ofl their coronets, singly ascended the throne again, and 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. S03 

stretching forth their hands, touched the crown on his majesty’s head, as 
promising, by that ceremony, to be ever ready to support it with all their 
power; and then each of them kissed the king’s cheek. 

I he sacrament was afterwards administered to his majesty, and an 
anthem sung, at the end of which the drums beat, and the trumpets 
rang, and the people shouted, Long live the king. The archbishop then 
went to the altar, and prayed lor some time—and the ceremony of 
crowning ended. 

1 hen came toe chivalrous banquet in the hall. The king was now 
habited in robes of purple velvet, furred with ermine :—the crown of 
state was on his head ; in his right hand was the sceptre, and in his left 
the orb with the cross. He walked under the canopy, which was sup¬ 
ported as before. When the gorgeous procession had at length arrived 
within the hall, the passage from the kitchen to the lower end was 
opened ; and the gentlemen bearing the golden dishes for the first course 
were seen, in regular line, ready to proceed to the king’s table. At this 
moment, the doors at the end of the hall were opened, the clarions and 
trumpets at the same time sounding, and the duke of Wellington, as 
lord high constable, the marquis of Anglesea, as lord high steward, and 
lord Howard of Eliingham, as deputy earl marshal, entered upon the 
floor, on horseback. The marquis of Anglcsea’s horse was a beautiful 
cream-coloured Arabian; lord Howard’s was a dun; and the duke ol 
Wellington’s a white steed. After* short pause, they rode gracefully 
up to the royal table, followed by the gentlemen with the first course. 
W hen the dishes were placed upon the board, the bearers first retired, 
with their faces towards the king; and then the noble horsemen retreated, 
by backing their steeds down the hall, and out at the archway. 

Before the dishes were uncovered, the lord great chamberlain presented 
the basin and ewer, to bathe his majesty’s hands; and the lord of the 
manor of Heydon attended with a rich towel. The dishes were then 
uncovered ; and his majesty was helped, by the carvers, to some soup 
At the end of this course, the gates of the hall were again thrown 
open, and a flourish of trumpets announced to the eager assembly, that 
the champion was about to enter. He advanced under the gateway, on 
a fine pie-bald charger, and clad in complete steel. The plumes on his 
head were of three colours, and extremely magnificent; and he bore in 
his hand the loose steel gauntlet, ready for the challenge. The duke of 
Wellington was on his right hand ; the marquis of Anglesea on his left. 
The herald then read the challenge:— 

“ If any person, of what degree soever, high or low, shall deny or 
gainsay our sovereign lord King George the Fourth, of the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, son and 
next heir to our sovereign lord king George the Third, the last king de¬ 
ceased, to be right heir to the imperial crown of this United Kingdom, or 
that he ought not to enjoy the same, here is his champion, who saith 
that he lieth, and is a false traitor; being ready, in person, to combat 
with him, and in this quarrel will adventure his life against him, on 
what day soever he shall be appointed.” 

At the conclusion of this challenge, the champion hurled down his 
gauntlet, which fell with a solemn clash upon the floor. He then 
placed his wrist against his steeled side, as if to show how indifferent he 
was to the consequence of his challenge. The herald, in a few seconds, 
took ip the glove, delivered it to the squire, who kissed it, and handed 


304 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


it to the champion. In the middle of the hall, the same ceremony was 
performed ; and also a third time at the foot of the royal platform. The 
king then drank his health, and sent him the cup; and he taking it, 
drank to the king, but his voice was drowned by the tumultuous shouts. 

On the champion retiring, the second course was brought in. Cer¬ 
tain services were then performed, which generally ended in a peer or 
some other fortunate personage being presented with a gold cup. The 
most interesting was the present of two falcons to his majesty from the 
duke of Athol, as an acknowledgment of fealty, and the tenure by which 
he held his estates under the crown. 

The king’s health was about this time drunk, with great acclamations, 
and the national hymn of “ God save the King” was sung by the choir. 
The king, standing up, drank to his subjects; notice of which honour 
was communicated by the duke of Norfolk; and shortly afterwards—■ 
Non Nobis Domine having been sung—in which the king took a part— 
his majesty retired, amidst the joyous clamours of his people. 

Theexrlusion from Westminster Hall, was the last of the many mor¬ 
tifications which it was the lot of the unfortunate daughter of the house 
of Brunswick to endure. After a week’s suffering from an internal 
inflammatory disorder, this ill-fated and ill-treated, and we fear we must 
add, this nl-conducted princess, breathed her last, on the night of the 
7th of August, in the fifty-fourth j^ar of her age. 

In her will, she had directed that her body, three days after her death, 
should be carried, without being opened, to Brunswick, for interment; 
and that the inscription on the coffin should be, “ Here lies Caroline of 
Brunswick, the injured queen of England.” 

On the morning of the fourteenth, at eight o’clock, the funeral pro¬ 
cession moved from Brandenburg house. The queen’s executors had 
made a protest against the moving of the body, and the measures which 
had been pursued respecting it, by order of the government, particularly 
its being accompanied by a military guard. There was in consequence 
exhibited a dreadful scene of opposition and tumult, in which many of 
the military were hurt, and two of the populace were killed. 

During these proceedings, the king was in Ireland. He had set out 
the day before the illness of the queen commenced ; but the news of 
her death reached him before he had left the English shores. He landed . 
at IIow r th on the 12th of August; and, in consequence of his late consort’s 
decease, he wished to have gone on shore in private. But privacy was 
impossible, and the moment his approach was known, all Dublin poured 
forth its population, to greet him. The enthusiasm rose to extrava¬ 
gance, and the king was all affability, in return ; condescending to shake 
nands cordially with the very lowest of the populace. He did not make 
his public entry into Dublin until the 17th of August. During the 
whole period of his stay in Ireland, he met with nothing but the most 
rdent demonstrations of loyalty. He returned to London on the IGth 
t September, and on the 24th left it again, to visit Hanover. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


305 


THIRD PART. 

Air. Peel appointed Secretary of State for the home Department.— 
.Marquis of fVellesley , Lord Lieutenant of Ireland .— Visit of the 
-A mg to Scotland.—Death of the Marquis of ILondonderry. — Air. 
Canning' appointed Secretary of Stale for Foreign Jlffairs. — Dis¬ 
turbances in Ireland. 

THE clamours of the country gentlemen, before the next meeting of 
parliament, had probably a great influence in determining the ministers 
to form a union with the Grenville party. The marquis of Bucking¬ 
ham was elevated to the dignity of a duke; Mr. C. Wynne was placed at 
the head of the board of control; and another of the family, Mr. A. 
Wynne, was named envoy to the Swiss Cantons, with appointments to 
the amount of about four thousand pounds a year. This union excited, 
as might have been expected, loud clamours amongst the whigs. 

Another change which occurred in the ministry, in the month of 
January, was the retirement, from active employment, of lord Sid- 
mouth ; who, retaining his seat in the cabinet, was succeeded in his 
office of secretary of state for the home department, by Mr. Peel, eldest 
son of Sir Robert Peel, of Lancashire; a gentleman, who, from a very 
slender capital, had amassed an immense estate by the manufacture of 
cotton fabrics. 

The marquis of Londonderry (lately entitled, before the death of his 
father, viscount Castlercagh) was in great want of official aid in the 
house of commons: there, he was the sole Atlas of the state: on his 
shoulders almost exclusively lay the burthen of giving explanations, an¬ 
swering questions, and repelling attacks in relation to the affairs of the 
home department, as well as to those of the foreign. The retreat of 
lord Sidmouth made room for the promotion of Mr. Peel, who proved an 
effective co-operator with lord Londonderry in the house of commons, 
and relieved the latter from some part of that mass of multifarious busi¬ 
ness by which his mind had been distracted. 

The change which occurred in the administration < f Ireland, was of 
much greater importance. The appointment of the marquis Wellesley 
to be lord-lieutenant of that part of the empire, was regarded as the com¬ 
mencement of a new system of government; and this presage was 
strengthened by the removal of Mr. Saurin, the able and vehement 
f’iend of protestant ascendancy, from the high situation of attorney- 
general, in order to make way for the advancement of his rival, Mr. 
Plunket, one of the ablest advocates of catholic emancipation. Under 
these new auspices, it was supposed that every ebullition of that spirit 
which exulted in the depression of the catholics, would be discouraged; 
their affections would be conciliated; and, from the vigorous measures 
which the energy of Lord Wellesley’s character would lead him to 
adopt, joined with his freedom from anti-catholic prejudices, his adminis¬ 
tration, it was hoped, would prove an epoch, from which Ireland might 
date an era of internal tranquillity and union. But no such question as 
catholic emancipation then existed in the cabinet: the catholics were to 
continue excluded from all that was then closed against them. Loid 
Wellesley did certainly discourage orange toasts and ceremonies: but 
what did’that avail!. While the iaws of the land conferred political as- 




306 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


cendancy upon the protestants, it could not be otherwise than fruitless 
to attempt to restrain them from the joyous and ostentatious celebration 
of their triumph. 

If ihe presence of the marquis Wellesley was ineffectual to allay til* 
heart-burnings which raged between the upper classes in Ireland, it was 
equally inadequate to suppress the outrages which made a great part of 
the island a tempestuous scene of violence, iniquity, and disorder. 
Alrocious deeds, similar to those which disgraced the conclusion of the 
preceding year, continued to be daily and nightly perpetrated. Nearly 
the whole of Munster was in a state, into which it is difficult to conceive 
how a civilized country could fall, that was not afflicted by foreign inva¬ 
sion, or had not been the seat of a protracted civil war. 

Not many months after his assuming the reins of government in Ire¬ 
land, Lord Wellesley had a very decisive proof of the animosity which 
his line of conduct had excited in the breasts of the orange party. On 
the evening of the 14th of December, he attended the theatre; when his 
visit was hailed with every expression of dislike. As the play proceeded, 
the disturbance became more outrageous, until at length a bottle, and a 
fragment of a watchman’s rattle, were thrown from one of the galleries, 
in the direction of the vice-regal box. 

Indeed, lord Wellesley stood in entirely a false position. Friendly 
himself to the catholic claims, he was to administer the government of 
Ireland, according to anti-catholic laws, and under an anti-catholic 
cabinet. There was, therefore, a constant opposition between his own 
feelings and principles, and the spirit of the system on which it was his 
duty to act.* 

The year 1821 will be for ever memorable, by the death of Napoleon 
Buonaparte ; whose spirit passed from its mortal tenement, to the Great 
Judge of all, on the fifth of May.j- 

On the lOthof August, the king embarked at Greenwich, for Scotland, 
on board the Royal George Yacht. On the 15th, he landed at Leith, 
and, accompanied by the different officers of the city, and an immense 
concourse of people, proceeded to the ancient palace of Holyrood-house, 
where tile lord-provost, magistrates, and town-council of Edinburgh, pre¬ 
sented a congratulatory address. On the 17th, his majesty held a court; 
and on the 20th a levee; at which, the addresses of the different public 
bodies in Scotland, were, received. On the 22d, accompanied by a grand 
procession, he proceeded from Holyrood-house to the castle, escorted by 
the highland clans, under their respective leaders, in full costume. On 
the following day, he reviewed the troops on Porto-Bello sands, amidst an 
immense assemblage of his Scottish subjects. He afterwards was pre¬ 
sent at a ball, given by the peers; dined with the corporation ; attended 
the High Church; and thence proceeded to Dalkeith. On the 27th, he 
embarked at Queensferry, near the carl of Hopetown’s, and sailed for the 
Thames, where the royal squadron arrived on the 30th. His majesty 
landed at Grecnwicn, and immediately proceeded to Carlton-House. 

The gratification derived by his majesty from this excursion to his 
northern dominions, was allayed by his receiving, on his arrival at Leith, 

* Tlie marquis Wellesley, about this time, was joined in matrimony with Mrs 
Patterson, an American lady, a daughter of the late Mr.Caton and grand daughter 
af the venerable Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. 

t For the particulars of 1 's imprisonment at St. Helena, see the Life of Napoleon, 
by the author of tins werk 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 30? 

intelligence of the tragical death of the marquis of Londondem This 
event occurred at his lordship’s residence, at Foot’s Craig, on Monday, 
the 12th of August, from a wound inflicted by himself, in his neck, with 
a pen-knife, while labouring under insanity, caused, it was supposed, by 
the pressure of severe ministerial duties. He was buried in Westmin 
ster Abbey, between the graves of Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox. 

find a successor to the marquis of Londonderry’s situation in the 
ministry, was no easy task. Mr. Canning was universally admitted to 
be the individual best qualified for the vacant post; and, at length, loid 
Amherst having been appointed, in his stead, governor-general of India— 
to fill which highly honourable station, Mr. Canning had been, for some 
time, making preparations—this distinguished orator was, in September, 
appointed secretary of state for foreign affairs. 

1824. By an act of parliament, passed in this year, was reversed the 
attainder of lord Stafford, who was executed in the reign of Charles II.; 
and four other acts were passed, to restore John Francis Erskine to the 
honours of earl of Mar; John Gordon, to the honours of carl of Ken 
mure; James Drummond, to the honours of earl of Perth, and lord 
Strathallan ; and W illiam Nairn, to the honours of lord Nairne; their an¬ 
cestors having been attainted for their adherence to the unfortunate 
royal family of Stuart. 

1825. Except as regarded the agitation amongst the catholic popula¬ 
tion of Ireland, chiefly by the instigation of Mr. O’Connell, Mr. Lawless, 
and Mr. Shiel, the political horizon of the British islands, during the 
greater part of the year 1825 was unclouded. Nearly all property in 
England had risen greatly in pecuniary value, and every branch of inter¬ 
nal industry was thriving. Agricultural distress had disappeared; the 
persons engaged in the cotton and woollen manufactures, were in full 
employment; the various departments of the iron trade were flourish¬ 
ing; in every district, new buildings were in the progress of erection ; 
and money was so abundant, that men of enterprise, though without 
capital, found no difficulty in obtaining funds for any plausible under¬ 
taking. 

The ministers determined to appoint charges des affaires to the states 
of Colombia, Mexico and Buenos Ayres; and entered into treaties ol 
commerce with those states, respectively, on the basis of the recognition 
of their independence of Spain ; from which, nearly the w hole continen¬ 
tal dominions of that monarchy had revolted on the invasion of the 
peninsula, by Napoleon, in the year 1810. 

182G. But the too great abundance of money, which had stimulated 
industry in the beginning of the preceding year, proved, before its ter¬ 
mination, most disastrous. Enterprise was pushed to an extreme degree 
of speculation, and what may fairly be termed mercantile gambling, par¬ 
ticularly in the creation of innumerable joint-stock companies in 
London. The consequences were felt most calamitously throughout the 
present year. Private credit was almost destroyed ; the failure of private 
bankers, both in the metropolis and in the country, continued to increase - 
and the universal distrust which existed, by limiting the facilities of ob 
taining discounts and advances, deprived commerce i>f its natural aid. 
and increased the difficulties of the trader 


JOS 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


FOURTH PART. 

Death of the Dit'ke of York .— The Duke of Wellington appointed 
Commander-in-chief .— Death of the Earl of Liverpool. — Jlr. Can¬ 
ning becomes Prime J\tinister. — J/is death.—Is succeeded by Lord 
Coderich.—He resigns .— The Duke of Wellington placed at the 
^ head of the Administration .— The *Marquis of Jlnglesea is succeeded 
-'n the government of Ireland, by the Duke of J\'orthumberland. 

1827. T1IE earliest public event of this year, was the death of the 
duke of York, the nearest heir presumptive of the crown. He died on 
the 5th of January, being then in his sixty-fourth year. He had held 
the office of commandcr-in-chief of all the forces for more than thirty- 
two years; in the administration of which he did not merely ira- 
pr ,ve,—he literally created, an army. By unceasing diligence, he gave 
to die common soldier comfort and respectability ; the army ceased to 
be considered as a sort of pest-house for the reception of moral lepers; 
and discipline and regularity were exacted with unceasing strictness; 
the officers were advanced by a gradual and well-ordered system of pro¬ 
motion, by which merit was not, as formerly, pushed aside, to make way 
for mere rank and wealth. 

The duke of Wellington, already master-gen oral of the ordnance, was 
now called to the head of the army, which had so often followed him to 
victory in the field. 

By the death of the duke of York, his next brother, the duke of Cla¬ 
rence, became the nearest presumptive heir of the crown. 

In the middle of February, the earl of Liverpool was suddenly 
attacked by a paralytic stroke. The immediate and more violent effects 
of the disease yielded to the power of medicine ; but its permanent 
consequences were of such a nature, as to remove the minister for ever 
from public life.* The office of premier was thus unoccupied; the govern¬ 
ment was left without a head ; and unfortunately the usual difficulties ol 
appointing a successor were greatly increased by the very nature of that 
cabinet over which the earl of Liverpool had presided. For some years, it 
had not been characterized by perfect unanimity of sentiment, with regard 
to more than one of the most important public questions. Himself immovea¬ 
ble in his hostility to the demands of the catholics, it was, notwith¬ 
standing, he who had introduced into the office which he now held, 
Mr. Canning, who, since 1812, had thought it prudent to exert his elo¬ 
quence in their support. The catholic question, above all, was now a 
stone of ofl’ence to many of the members; and it was upon this rock 
that the cabinet went to pieces. The lord chancellor, the duke of Wel¬ 
lington, and Mr. Peel, formed the strength of the party opposed to eman¬ 
cipation. Mr. Canning, though his sincerity in the cause had oftes. 
been denied or questioned, was placed, by his official situation, at the 
head of its friends.. The king at length finally determined, that the 
new ministry should be, like its predecessor, divided in its opinion upon 

* Ho died on the 4th of December, having been prime minister about twelva 
years 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 3( p 

the catholic question ; but that Mr. Canning, the leader of the catholic 
party, who^ refused to serve under an anti-catholic premier, should be at 
its head. The consequence was, that, having formally received, on the 
I Oth of April, the king’s instructions to form a ministry, he found him¬ 
self, in less than forty-eight hours, deprived of the assistance of no fewer 
than six of the leading members of the former cabinet,—Mr. Peel, lord 
Eldon, earl of Westmoreland, lord Bathurst, duke of Wellington, and 
lord Melville;—and those resignations were speedily followed by 
others.* 

The session of parliament, during which those important changes 
nad occurred, was one in which very little business had been done, but 
the events of which had excited more hopes and fears, and had given it 
a character of more intense interest than would have been called forth 
by the usual routine of political discussion. It had borne, in a great 
degree, a personal character. It was “ man to man, the soldier and his 
sword.” It was destined to be speedily followed by an event, which 
stretched that interest to its utmost degree, and taught one of the most 
impressive lessons, that the history of politics presents, of the vanity and 
uncertainty of ambition. The health of Mr. Canning had been in a 
very delicate state, even at the commencement of the session; and the 
mental anxiety which followed could not be otherwise than injurious to 
its restoration. His care-worn appearance betrayed that the mind was 
ill at ease within ; mind and body panted equally for repose. Soon after 
the rising of parliament, he was visited by an illness, which seemed, how¬ 
ever, to yield to -medical treatment, and he went down to the duke of 
Devonshire’s seat at Chiswick, to seek tranquillity, and enjoy a purer air. 
The disease returned ; inflammation had commenced ; it proceeded with 
a violence and rapidity which set art at defiance ; and Mr. Canning ex¬ 
pired at Chiswick (the same house in which Mr. Fox had breathed his 
last,) on the 8th of August, in the 57th year of his age, after having been 
prime minister only four months. 


* When the parliament re assembled on the 1st of May, the new ministry wa* 
its follows:— 


THE CABINET. 


Lord Chancellor .... 

Lord President. 

Ijord Privy Seal .... 
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 
Secretary of State for the Colonies 
Sec. of State for the Horne Department 
President of the Board of Trade 
President of the Board of Control 
Secretary at War - 
First Lord of the Treasury, and ) 
Chancellor of the Exchequer | 


Lord Lyndhurst (iate Sir John Copley ) 
Earl ofHarrowby 
Duke of Portland. 

Lord Bexley. 

Viscount Dudley. 

Viscount Goderich (late Mr. Robinson i 
W. S. Bourne. 

W. Huskisson. 

C. W. Wynne. 

Viscount Palmerston. 

George Canning. 


NOT IN THE CABINET. 


Lord High Admiral .... 
Master-General of the Ordnance 
Lord Chamberlain of the Household 
Master of the Horse 
Chief Sec. to the Lord Lieu of Ireland. 


Duke of Clarence. 
Marquis of Anglesea. 
Duke of Devonshire. 
Duke of Leeds. 

W. Lamb. 


LAW APPOINTMENTS. 

Master of the Rolls • - - - Sir John Leach. 

Vice Chancellor .... Sir A. Hart. 

Attoinev-Gcneral ... Sir James Scarlett 

Solicitor-General - * • Sir N. Tindall 

2 n 


310 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


It was not unnatural to expect, that, on the removal of Mr. Canning, 
whose influence alone seemed to have brought, and to have kept together, 
the heterogeneous materials, of which the cabinet was composed, its dis¬ 
cordant elements would again fly asunder. Very few changes, however, 
occurred; and their effect was to bring back into office a portion of 
Mr. Canning’s former friends. The duke of Wellington almost imme¬ 
diately resumed the command of the army, but without any seat in the 
cabinet. Lord Goderich took the reins of government, as first lord of the 
treasury; Mr. Huskisson succeeded him as colonial secretary; and 
Mr. Herries was appointed chancellor of the exchequer. 

On the appointment of lord Goderich to the premiership, lord Wil¬ 
liam Bentinck was named to succeed lord Amherst, as governor-general 
of India ; and lord Amherst, in the mean time, was making “ a pro¬ 
gress” up the Ganges, receiving the visits of the neighbouring princes, 
amidst the amusements and luxuries of oriental magnificence. 

1828. This was an era of ministerial changes. Unequal to the task 
of maintaining concord amongst the members of the new administra¬ 
tion, on the 8th of January, lord Goderich made known his difficulties to 
the king, and ceased to be premier; and thus perished the Canning 
coalition ministry, after an existence of seven months. 

Now abandoned by his ministers, the king sent for the duke of Wel¬ 
lington, and commissioned him to form a new cabinet, with himself 
at its head. The new government was speedily constructed. In framing 
it, nearly all the members of the former cabinet were retained, except 
the whigs, who had joined Mr. Canning in the day of his necessity. 
Mr. Peel returned to the home department, in the place of the marquis 
of Lansdown. Mr. Tierney surrendered the mint. Sir James Scarlett 
resigned the office of attorney-general, which was restored to Sir Charles 
Wetherell. Lord Melville (son of the celebrated colleague of Mr. Pitt) 
was placed at the head of the board of control; Mr. Goulburn was made 
chancellor of the exchequer ; and earl Bathurst president of the council. 
The duke of Wellington was first lord of the treasury, and he imme¬ 
diately resigned the.office of commander-in-chief. 

Another important change occurred, before the termination of the 
year, in the government of Ireland. The marquis of Anglesea (who had 
succeeded lord Wellesley) having, in a letter to one of the Roman Ca¬ 
tholic bishops, expressed himself favourable to the system of “ agitation ’* 
by which the Irish peasantry, induced by their principal orators to assem¬ 
ble and parade in immense multitudes, to the terror of the protestant in¬ 
habitants of the southern and middle counties of Ireland, the next wind 
that blew from England brought the mandate which recalled him from 
Ireland. He quitted Dublin in the ensuing January, and was succeeded 
by the duke of Northumberland. 

FIFTH PART. 

British settlements at the Cape of Good Hope.—War -with the As harm 
tees, ft' ur Tvith the Bing of Jlva .— Capture oj R hurl pore.—Battle 
of Navarmo .— Voyages of Discovery. 

THE transactions in the British colonies, situated in Africa and tha 
East Indies, are too important to be passed over unnoticed. The settle 
ments at the Cape of Good Hope weie extending towards the interior 


31J 


HISTORY" OF ENGLAND. 

«nd increasing in commercial prosperity : but the quiet of the colony 
was disturbed by the extreme unpopularity of its governor, lord Charles 
Somerset. 

1 he British possessions, in another part of Africa, became, in the year 

824, the scene of much more important events. A question of sove¬ 
reignty having arisen between two of the native tribes, the Ashantces 
and the Fantees, whose territories were situated in the neighbourhood 
of Cape Coast Castle, the British governor became involved in the dis¬ 
pute, and. espoused the side of the latter nation. At first, the enemy 
showed on the frontier only a few small detachments. One of these 
was completely beaten by captain Laing, though not without considera* 
ble loss on his side. This reverse, and two others, which soon afterwards 
ensued, seem only to have urged the king to more strenuous prepara¬ 
tions. He sacrificed daily nine or ten victims, to propitiate his deities; 
he called upon all his chiefs and vassals to furnish their quotas of troops ; 
and sir Charles McCarthy received intelligence, that the whole force of 
the Ashantee nation was in rapid movement towards Cape Coast. Pre¬ 
parations were immediately made by that officer, to oppose them. On 
the 21st of January, having under his command, about seven hundred 
European and native troops, consisting of regulars, militia, and volun¬ 
teers, aided by a large number of the Wassan and Dinkera nations, he 
encountered the Ashantees, ten thousand in number, on the banks of the 
Boosam-pra. The issue was most disastrous to the British commander. 
The Wassans having left the field early in the day, and the troops of 
sir Charles M‘Carthy being greatly fatigued, and their ammunition en¬ 
tirely consumed, the enemy sent a considerable force round his flanks, 
to cut off his retreat; in which, from their superior numbers, they com¬ 
pletely succeeded. The whole now became one scene of confusion. 
The enemy were intermixed with the colonial troops. Sir Charles 
M‘Carthy, in the midst of them, received a mortal wound in the breast, 
from a musket ball. The troops dispersed in different directions. A 
series of engagements followed, unparalleled in previous warfare with 
the native race of Africa, as well on account of the numbers brought into 
the field against the colonial forces, as the obstinacy displayed by the 
former in renewing the engagement, and the skill with which they en¬ 
deavoured to outflank their more practised antagonists. The settlers 
at Cape Coast Castle became justly alarmed. The Ashantees gradually 
drove the colonial troops before them, until they appeared before the 
town, with not less than ten thousand men; but colonel Sutherland, 
upon whom the command had now devolved, having received a small 
re-inforcement from the vessels then lying in the harbour, at length suc¬ 
ceeded in repulsing them; and on the 20th of July, they withdrew. 

In 1826, the settlements in that quarter were again threatened by the 
restlessness of the Ashantees. Colonel Purdon, having assembled a het 
erogeneous army, consisting of eighty men of the Royal African corps; 
five hundred militia, British, Dutch, and Danish, belonging to Accra and 
Cape Coast Castle, and about ten thousand friendly natives, under their 
respective princes, marched, on the 29th of July, to meet the enemy. On 
the 7th of August, he engaged them on an extensive plain, at Ashrovcan 
and, after a severe conflict, defeated them with a loss of five thousand 
men. The whole of the camp equipage, of great value, fell into the 
Sands of some of the least deserving of the allied forces. Amongst those 
spoils, were, the golden umbrella of state ; the golden stool of state • and 


812 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


gold-dust, ivory, and other valuable commodities, to a large amount 
Adononaqua, king of Aquapim, recovered the head of the late sir Charles 
M‘Carthy, which had been considered, by the Ashantees as their greatest 
charm, or fetish. It was enveloped in two folds of paper, covered with 
Arabic characters, and also in a silk handkerchief, and lastly, served up 
in a leopard’s skin. The captor refused to give it to the British com¬ 
mander. 

The tranquillity of the eastern dominions, was interrupted by hostili¬ 
ties of greater magnitude, than any in which the British had been pre¬ 
viously engaged, in that quarter of the world. The king of Ava, reigning 
over the extensive territory, and numerous nations of the Burmans, 
compelled the governor-general of India to declare war against him. 
The English had a dispute with the court of Ava, in 1795, respecting 
some Burmese robbers, who had taken refuge at Chittagong; and gene¬ 
ral Erskine was sent, with a military force, from Calcutta, to repel the 
invasion of the Burmese: but the quarrel was then settled, and the ag¬ 
gressors were surrendered, without any actual use of arms. The aggres¬ 
sions, however, were at length renewed. Elated by its conquests over 
the petty tribes by which it is surrounded, the Burmese government 
ventured to violate the British territories; to attack and kill a party of 
British sepoys; to seize and imprison British subjects; to avow extensive 
schemes ot mischievous aggression; and to make hostile preparations on 
the colonial frontier. 

A considerable armament, both naval and military, partly from Ma¬ 
dras, and partly from Calcutta, was in consequence assembled, in the 
beginning of May, 1824, at Port Cornwallis, under the command of sir 
Archibald Campbell and commodore Grant. They reached the Rangoon 
river on the 10th, and, on the following day, attacked Rangoon, the 
principal seaport of Ava, which they entered by storm, without the loss 
of a single man. Detachments were sent against several other places in 
the enemies dominions. I he island of Cheduba soon afterwards sur¬ 
rendered to the British arms; the town of Negrais was taken about the 
same time; Kemmerdine was subdued, after a sanguinary contest; Tavoy 
and Mergui, the most valuable possessions of the Burmese on the Te- 
nasserim coast, surrendered to an expedition commanded by colonel 
Miles; the important town of Martaban was taken by colonel Godwin; 
and the last mentioned success was followed by the submission of Te- 
nasserim, and of the town and province of Yeali; and thus, the whole 
of the Burmese coast, from Rangoon to the eastward, was subjected to 
the British arms. 

In the mean time, Maha Bundoola had been nominated to the chief 
command of the Burmese army. On the morning of the 1st of Decem¬ 
ber, that chief appeared in front of general Campbell’s position, at the 
head of the whole united force of the Burmese empire, amounting to not 
less than 50,000 men, apparently well armed, with a numerous artillery, 
and a body of Cassay horse; but, after a series of impetuous attacks upon 
several of the British commander’s posts, particularly at Kemmerdine, 
Bundoola was driven from all his intrench men ts, having lost, in killed 
and wounded, about five thousand men, and left upon the field two hun¬ 
dred and forty pieces of cannon, and a large quantity of muskets, in¬ 
trenching tools, and ammunition. 

1 he Chittagong frontier, also, had been the scene of military opera 
Hons; and, alter a long scries of conflicts, with various success, the cam 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 313 

naign terminated, every where, in favour of the British arms, and an 
end was put to the apprehensions, at one time entertained, of an inva¬ 
sion of Bengal, through Assam. 

In the following year, the hostilities against the Burmese, were pro¬ 
secuted with activity, and in their details successfully, hut without pro 
during any general result. On the 2d of April, Donabeu was entered 
by sir Archibald Campbell; the place having been evacuated the pre¬ 
ceding night. During the siege, the enemy made several bold and 
desperate sorties upon the British line, but they were, on every occasion, 
quickly repulsed. In one of these sorties, a novel scene was presented, 
in front of the two armies. Seventeen large elephants, each carrying a 
complement of armed men, and supported by a column of infantry, were 
observed moving down towards the right flank of the besiegers. But 
the body-guard, under captain Sneyd, charged these formidable assail¬ 
ants. and, mixing boldly with the elephants, shot their riders off their 
backs, and finally drove the whole into the fort. On the 25th of April, 
sir Archibald Campbell entered Prome, without firing a shot. A series 
of brilliant operations gave the British divisions, under the command of 
colonels Richards and M‘Dougall, and generals Morrison, Macbean, and 
Cotton, possession of the towns of Rangpoore, Arracan, and Melloone, 
and of the islands of Ramree and Sandowey; and in the middle o, 
February, 1826, when sir Archibald Campbell had reached Yandaboc* 
within four days’ march of the capital, a treaty of peace was concluded, 
and on the 5th of March, the British troops commenced their return to 
Rangoon. 

The king of Ava paid to his triumphant invaders, the sum of twenty < 
five lacs of rupees; renounced all claims to the principality cf Assam 
and its dependencies, and also upon the contiguous petty states of 
Cuchar, and Jyntia; and ceded to the British government, the con¬ 
quered provinces of Arracan, Ramree, Cheduba, and Sandowey; the 
Arracan mountains being designated as the boundary between the two 
great powers, on that side. The king of Ava also ceded to the British, 
government, the conquered provinces of Yeh, Tavoy, and Mergui, and 
Tenasserim, with the islands and dependencies appertaining; fixing th 
saluen river as the line of demarcation on that frontier. 

While the Burmese war was brought to this triumphant conclusion, 
ortune had been equally propitious to the arms of Britain on the north* 
western frontier of her Indian empire; where her interposition was de¬ 
manded to protect a native prince against a usurper. The rajah of 
Bhurtpore, Buldeo Singh, had died in terms of strict alliance with the 
company, by which they were bound to assist each other against al 
enemies. Apprehensive of tne consequences which might follow upon 
bis death, the rajah had declared his son, Bulwunt Singh, his successor 
and had obtained for him, from the company, the formal investiture of 
,he Khilaat, or robe of inauguration. From that moment, the young 
rajah was under the protection of the British government. On the 
death, however, of Buldeo Singh, his nephew, Doorjan Sal, gained a 
party in the army, excited a successful rebellion, obtained possession of 
Bhurtpore itself, and seated himself upon his cousin’s throne. Bulwunt 
Singh demanded the protection of the company; and, in the end of tha 
year 1825, an army, under the command of lord Combermere, marched 
to re-instate him. 

The first and leading object, was the reduction of Bhurtpore itself’ (j 

2 d 2 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


fortress Gf immense strength, deemed, by the natives, impregnable, and 
already celebrated for its successful resistance to British troops, when 
besieged, in 1805, by lord Lake; who was compelled to abandon the 
enterprise, after he had lost three thousand men. On the 10th of De¬ 
cember, 1825, lord Combermere appeared before it, with an army of 
more than twenty thousand men. Its mud walls resisted every endeav¬ 
our to breach them, by means of cannon ; but, at length, t by the explo¬ 
sion of a mine, on the 18th of January, 1826, one of the bastions was 
hurled into the air with terrific effect, and immediately afterwards the 
besiegers made an assault, and became masters of the place, by storm. 

The loss of the enemy could not be computed at less than four thou¬ 
sand killed; and, owing to the disposition of the cavalry, hardly a man 
bearing arms escaped. The fortifications were demolished ; the principal 
bastions were blown up, and it was left to the rains to complete the ruin. 
The Futty Bourg, or “ Bastion of Victory,” built, as the Bhurtporeans 
vaunted, with the bones and blood of British soldiers, who fell in the 
assault under lord Lake, was laid low; and, amongst its destroyers, were 
some of the very men, who, twenty years before, “ had been permitted,” 
in the boasting language of the natives, “ to fly from its eternal walls.” 
—All the other fortresses within the rajah’s dominions, immediately 
surrendered; the inhabitants returned to their abodes; the prince was 
reinstated in his authority; and, on the 20th February, lord Comber 
mere commenced his return to Calcutta. 

In another part of the world, nearer home, a conflict arose, of a char¬ 
acter very different from those which have been just narrated. For a 
series of years, the Greek subjects of the Ottoman government, had been 
heroically struggling, with various success, to cast off the unnatural 
shackles which bound them to their Mahometan masters; and the 
whole Christian world had long sympathized in the cruel fate of the de¬ 
scendants of a people endeared to them by so many, associations of classi¬ 
cal interest and glory. The heart bled at the recital of so much slaughter 
and so many woes. Neutrality could no longer retain the sword un¬ 
sheathed ; and the strict principles of international law, which forbid the 
interference of one nation in the domestic quarrels of another, were at 
length violated upon the altar of religious feeling and commiseration. 
On the 6th of July, 1827, a treaty was entered into, at London, by the 
ambassadors of the three great powers, Great Britain, France, and Russia, 
having for its basis the stopping of the further effusion of Christian blood ; 
and, to effectuate its purpose, a fleet was despatched by the government 
of each, which, in the autumn of the same year, arrived upon the west¬ 
ern coast of Greece. Thus disappointed in his attempt at naval opera¬ 
tions, Ibrahim Pacha, the Turkish commander, proceeded to execute his 
orders to quell the insurrection of the Greeks, on land ; and, irritated 
perhaps by the disappointment, he executed them mercilessly with fire 
and sw r ord. On the 19th of October, he marched a corps of six thou¬ 
sand men to Calamata, another of three thousand men to Arcadia, and 
prepared to proceed himself at the head of a third body into the district 
of Maina. His footsteps were marked by blood and desolation. He 
issued orders io put all to the sword, who should be found armed ; and in 
the villages of Maina, where some resistance had been shown, these 
orders were ruthlessly obeyed. Continual clouds of fire and smoke, 
rising all around the gulf of Coron, bore frightful testimony to the de* 
vastation that was going forward. The miserable survivors, who escaped 


315 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

slavery and the sword, sought concealment in caves amongst the moun¬ 
tains, where women and children were daily perishing of absolute star 
vation; for, even in the plains, and around the cities, the war had already 
produced famine. A morsel of boiled grass was almost the only food of 
these miserable people. 

The British admiral, Codrington, who had united the squadrons be¬ 
fore Navarino, in the middle of October, determined, if it were possible, 
to put a stop to these atrocities. He had already, by flags of truce, 
made many unavailing remonstrances to Ibrahim against his violent 
proceedings; and had exhausted his means of persuasion and concilia¬ 
tion. He therefore resolved , to enter the harbour of Navarino with the 
combined fleets, in the hope that it might produce a determination leading 
to the desired object, without the effusion of blood, and without hostili¬ 
ties, but simply by the imposing presence of the squadrons. In the af¬ 
ternoon of the 20th of October, the combined fleets passed the batteries 
to take up their anchorage, formed in the order of sailing, in two lines; 
the British and French squadrons forming the weather or starboard line, 
and the Russian squadron the lee line. The Turkish ships were moored 
in the form of a crescent; the larger vessels presenting their broadsides 
towards the centre; the smaller vessels in succession within them, filling 
up the intervals. The Asia, which carried Admiral Codrington’s flag, 
led in, followed by the Genoa and Albion, and anchored close alongside 
a ship of the line, bearing the flag of the Capitana Bey, and also another 
ship of the line, and a large double-banked frigate; each of the three 
British ships having thus her proper opponent in the front line of the 
Turkish fleet. The four ships to windward, part of the Turko-Egyptian 
squadron, were allotted to the squadron of rear-admiral de Rigny; and 
those to leeward, in the sight of the crescent, were to mark the stations 
of the whole Russian squadron; the ships of their line closing those of 
the English line, and being followed up by their own frigates; while 
proper stations were assigned to the frigates of the English and French 
squadrons.—At length, the Turks, supposing that a boat despatched 
from one of the English squadrons, was approaching for the purpose of 
boarding, fired at her a volley of musketry, by which a lieutenant and 
several of her crew were killed ; and this was quickly followed by a general 
engagement. As each ship of the enemy became disabled, such of her 
crew as could escape from her, set her on fire, and the combined fleets 
nad to exercise as much activity in avoiding danger from the fre¬ 
quent explosions, as in continuing the contest. The battle continued 
with unabated fury, during four hours. At the end of that period, the 
Turkish and Egyptian fleets had disappeared; the bay of Navarino was 
covered with their wrecks; only a few of the smaller vessels, or some 
battered and useless hulks, escaped into the security of the inner har¬ 
bour. The carnage on board the crowded ships of the enemy, was 
dreadful. In two of their ships of the line alone, two thirds of their 
crews were killed or wounded. The severest loss on the side of tho 
Allies, was sustained by the British squadron, which had seventy-five 
men killed, and one hundred and ninety-seven wounded. Of tho 
French, there were killed forty-three, and wounded one hundred and 
forty-four. 

Under any predecessor of the Sultan Mahmoud, the intelligence of 
such a disaster, inflicted by powers who had their representatives resident 

his court as friends and allies, would have endangered the life of every 


316 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Christian in Constantinople; but the Sultan had made himself mastei of 
the moD of his capital; and there was not much reason to apprehend, on 
the present occasion, those excesses of popular fury which had distin¬ 
guished the reign of the Janissaries. In their communication with the 
Reis Eifendi, the ambassadors admitted the occurrence of the disaster at 
Navarino, but added their conviction, that the event, however much -it 
was to be deplored, had been caused entirely through the fault of the 
Turkish commander. Frequent meetings of the Divan were held, to 
deliberate upon the policy which should be followed towards the Euro¬ 
pean powers. During their deliberations, a new event occurred, to ag¬ 
gravate their angry feelings. The Greeks had accepted the armistice, as 
soon as it was offered to them; but, while the combined fleets had been 
compelling Ibrahim to accede to it by destroying his ships, a body of 
Greek troops, led by lord Cochrane and colonel Fabvier, landed in the 
island of Scyros, and compelled the pacha to retire into the fort. The 
news of this expedition, which the Turks believed to have been under¬ 
taken with the aid, or at least with the connivance of the allies, arrived, 
while the government was in the midst of its deliberations on the affairs 
of Navarino, and contributed to increase the irritation which was already 
felt. One party in the Divan, and, at the head of it, the sultan himself, 
was for immediately declaring war; but the views of the more pacific, 
or rather the more politic portion of the cabinet, prevailed. It was, 
at least, of importance to gain time for the purposes of preparation; 
and the allies might, at the same time, be amused with propositions 
which would at once assert the honour of the Porte, and delay the ap¬ 
peal to arms, until its forces were ready to act. Accordingly, the Reis 
Effendi communicated to the British ambassador on the 8th of Novem¬ 
ber, and to the ambassadors of France and Russia on the 9th, the final 
resolution of the Turkish government, comprehended in three demands: 
—That the allied courts should desist from all interference in the affairs 
of Greece;—that the Porte should receive an indemnity for the loss sus¬ 
tained in the destruction of its fleet; and that the sultan should receive 
satisfaction for the insult which had been offered to him. To these de¬ 
mands, the ambassadors, on the 10th, returned for answer, that the 
treaty of the 6th of July, forbade the allies to abandon the question of 
Greece; that the Turkish fleet gave occasion to the battle of Navarino, 
which destroyed every claim of the Porte to an indemnity; that the 
Porte had the less reason to expect satisfaction, as it had been informed, 
in due time, that an event such as that at Navarino might occur, if it 
did not listen to the counsels of moderation, or if it should be the first to 
attack. 

All hopes of an accommodation seeming thus to be at an end, the 
ambassadors left Constantinople on the 8th of December. The Rus¬ 
sian minister repaired to Odessa; those of Britain and France to the 
Ionian isles. 

PART SIXTH. 

i 

The political disabilities under which the Roman Catholics of Grea« 
Britain and Ireland, still continued to labour, have been a subject upon 
which we have frequently commented in this history. The time wai 
now approaching, when those grievances were about to be removed; and 
f: was reserved for the former leaders of the party inimical to thoir de 


317 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

mauds, to yield through the pressure of necessity, what had so often 
been refused on the ground of liberality or lavour. To so dangerous a 
height, had the agitation by the Catholic leaders been carried in the 
<5outh of Ireland, that it wanted only the signal for insurrection, to rouse 
the whole mass of the population, professing that religion, in rebellion 
against the British throne. The alternative of a civil war, if the ap* 
proaching storm were not averted by legislation, was dreadful to every 
reflecting statesman; and the ministers of George IV. at length resolved 
to sacrifice their private opinions, and their character for political con¬ 
sistency and honesty, to the public good. The Catholic Relief Bill, by 
which the Roman Catholics of Great Britain and Ireland were placed 
substantially on the same footing as protestants of the established church, 
with only three exceptions—exclusion from the throne, and from the 
offices of lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and lord chancellor of that kingdom, 
and of England—having been introduced into the house of commons by 
Mr. Peel, passed that house finally on the 30th of March, 1829, by a 
majority of one hundred and seventy-eight; there being three hundred 
and twenty in favour of the bill, and one hundred and forty-two against 
it. In the house of lords, the bill was introduced by the duke of Wel¬ 
lington, where it received the final reading on the 3d of April, and passed 
by a majority of one hundred and four; two hundred and thirteen peers 
having voted for it, and one hundred and nine against it; and on the 
13th, it received the royal assent. The bill was accompanied by another 
for the disfranchisement of “ forty shilling” freeholders in Ireland ; and 
the raising of the elective franchise, in counties, in that kingdom, to the 
possessing of a freehold estate of the clear annual value of ten pounds, 
and thus, thousands of the humbler class of freeholders were stripped of 
their long exercised privilege of voting at elections for members of the 
house of commons, in order to gratify the ambition of the few catholic 
gentlemen of Ireland qualified to sit in that body, whose number at any 
one time will probably never exceed ten. 

In consequence of aspersions thrown by the earl of Winchelsea, upon 
the motives and conduct of the duke of Wellington in his advocacy ol 
the catholic relief bill, the former nobleman was challenged by the duke: 
a meeting accordingly took place; when the earl having received the 
duke’s fire, discharged his pistol in the air. 

There are in the peerage of the United Kingdom, eighteen Roman 
Catholics:—eight for England, eight for Ireland, and two for Scotland. 
Of these, one is a duke, five are earls, four are viscounts, and eight 
barons. 

A series of interesting voyages, towards the North Polar regions, oc¬ 
curred in this reign. The first expedition was intrusted to captain 
Ross ; who sailed from England on the 18th of April, 1818, and returned 
unsuccessful, after an absence of six months. The second polar expe¬ 
dition was commanded by captain Parry, who sailed in the ensuing 
year; and, about the same time, lieutenant Franklin was despatched, for 
the purpose of endeavouring to penetrate the polar regions by land. The 
last mentioned officer made a second attempt to explore the polar regions, 
and captain Parry continued to direct several other expeditions, with 
considerable success; having, in the year 1820, discovered a passage 
through Lancaster's Sound, into vhe supposed polar sea. 

In the month of May, 1827, the first stone of the London University 
was laid.—On the 2d of February, 1829, the celebrated edifice, called 


318 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

York Minster, one of the chief architectural glories of England, was 
almost totally destroyed by fire. The fire was not accidental. . It was 
discovered to have been caused by a fanatic, of the name of Martin, who 
was subsequently tried for the offence, at York, and found to be insane. 

In the year 1830, the University of Oxford contained 5,269 members; 
the University of Cambridge, 5,263.—In 1814, the number of steam¬ 
boats in Great Britain and Ireland, was only eleven ; in 1820, there 
were seventy-eight; in 1829, three hundred and forty-two. In the year 
1825, a steam-boat performed a voyage from London to Calcutta ; being 
the first vessel of the kind that had attempted to reach that distant 
quarter of the world. In 1826, the number of steam-engines in Eng¬ 
land was not less than fifteen thousand; one of which, in Cornwall, 
was of 600 horse-power. 

George the Fourth died at Windsor, on the 26th of June, 1830, of 
ossification of the heart, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and the 
eleventh of his reign; being succeeded on the throne by his brother, 
William Henry, duke of Clarence, under the title of William the 
Fourth. 


The following eminent persons died in the reign of George IV. 


Benjamin West, 

March 10, 

1820, 

aged 82 years. 

Arthur Young, 

April 12, 

44 


— 

44 

Henry Grattan, 

June 4, 

44 

44 

73 

44 

Sir Joseph Banks, 

“ 19, 

44 


— 

44 

Earl of Malmsbury, 

Nov. 21, 

44 

(4 

74 

44 

Mrs. Piozzi, 

May 2, 

1821, 

44 

82 

44 

John Bonny castle, 

“ 15, 

44 


— 

44 

Mrs. Inchbald, 

Aug. 1, 

44 

44 

66 

44 

John Rennie, 

Oct. 4, 

44 

44 

63 

<4 

Sir James Mansfield, 

Nov. 23, 

44 

44 

87 

44 

John Emery, 

July 25, 

1822, 


— 

44 

Marquis of Londonderry, 

Aug. 12, 

44 

44 

53 

44 

Sir Win. Herschell, 

“ 25, 

44 

44 

85 

44 

Mrs. Garrick, 

Oct. 16, 

44 

44 

98 

44 

Charles Hutton, 

Jan. 26, 

1823, 

44 

85 

44 

Dr. Jenner, 

44 44 

44 

44 

73 

44 

Mrs. Radcliffc, 

Feb. 7, 

44 

44 

— 

44 

John Philip Kemble, 

March 5, 

44 

44 . 

67 

44 

Admiral Earl St. Vincent, 

“ 13, 

44 

44 

88 

44 

General Dumourier, 

“ 14, 

44 

44 

84 

44 

Joseph Nollekens, 

April 23, 

44 

44 

85 

44 

Sir Henry Raeburn, 

July 6, 

44 

44 

— 

44 

William Coombe, 

July —, 
Aug. 19, 

44 

44 

81 

44 

Robert Bloomfield, 

44 

44 

56 

44 

Lord Erskine, 

Nov. 30, 

44 

44 

75 

44 

G. Belzoni, 

Rev. John Lempriere, 

Dec 3, 

44 

44 

40 

44 

Feb. 1, 

1824, 

44 

— 

44 

Major Cartright, 

“ 23, 

44 

44 

84 

44 

Lord Byron, 

Mr. Saddler, aeronaut, 
George Chalmers, 

April 19, 

44 

44 

36 

44 

Sept. 29, 

44 

44 

— 

44 

May 31, 

1825, 

44 

82 

44 

Abraham Rees, 

June 9, 

44 

44 

81 

44 


319 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Charles Incledon, 

Feb. 11, 

1826 

44 



Lindley Murray, 

“ 23,’ 

44 

44 

80 

y v it [ St 

44 

Bishop Heber, 

April 3, 

44 

44 

42 

44 

Rev. John Milner, 

“ 19, 

44 

44 

74 

44 

Carl Von Weber, 

June 5, 

44 

44 

39 

44 

Mrs. Mattocks, 

“ 25, 

44 

44 

81 

44 

Marquis of Hastings, 

Nov. 29, 

44 

44 

71 

44 

John Flaxtnan, 

Dec. 7, 

44 

44 

72 

44 

William Gifford, 

“ 31, 

44 

41 

70 

44 

Major A. G. Laing, 


44 

44 

32 

44 

Duke of York, 

Jan. 5, 

1827, 

44 

64 

(4 

Charles Dignum, 

March 29, 

44 

44 


44 

George Canning, 

Aug. 8, 

44 

44 

56 

44 

Captain Clapperton, 

April 13, 

1828, 

44 

40 

44 

Sir VVm. Congreve, 

May 16, 

44 

44 

56 

44 

Margaret Nicholson, 

“ 17, 

44 

44 

100 

44 

Dugald Stewart, 

July—, 

44 

44 

75 

44 

Earl of Liverpool, 

Dec. 4, 

44 

44 


u 

John U. Johnson, Com’n, 

“ 26, 

44 

44 

78 

44 

William Shield, 

Jan. 29, 

1829, 

44 

80 

44 

Francis Plowden, 

March —, 

44 

44 


44 

Sir Humphry Davy, 

May 29, 

44 

44 

51 

44 

Sir David Baird, 

Aug. 18, 

44 

44 

- 

44 

Helen Maria Williams, 


44 

44 

_ — ^ 

44 

Sir Thomas Laurens, 

Jan. 7, 

1830, 

44 

60 

44 

Lord Redesdale, 

“ 16, 

44 

44 

81 

44 

George Tierney, 

“ 25, 

44 

44 

68 

44 


CHAPTER XX. 

WILLIAM THE FOURTH. 

FIRST PART . 

His Private History. 1830—1837. 

PRINCE William Henry, Duke of Clarence, ascended the throne 
of the British Empire, in the 65th year of his age, under the title of 
William IV. 

Having received his elementary education chiefly in association with 
his two eldest brothers, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, on 
the 15th June, in the year 1779, Prince William, then in his 14th year, 
entered, as a midshipman, on board the Prince George, of ninety-eight, 
guns, carrying the flag of Rear Admiral Digby, at Spithead; and from 
that period, with little intermission, continued to fight the battles of his 
country, until, having regularly passed through every grade in the 
naval service, and reached the forty-seventh year of his age, on the 
death of Sir Peter Parker, he succeeded that gallant officer, as admiral 
of the fleet. 






320 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


In the month of January, 1780, Admiral Rodney, commander of the 
fleet in which the young prince then sailed, fell in with a large Spanish 
fleet off St. Vincent; when, after a severe engagement, the Spanish 
admiral, Don Juan De Langara, with several ships of the line, was 
captured. Previously to his departure as a prisoner to England, Don 
Juan visited Admiral Digby; a circumstance which has furnished an 
interesting and instructive anecdote. During the conference between 
the two admirals, the prince retired, and when it was intimated that 
Don Juan wished to return to his ship, his Royal Highness appeared 
in the character of a midshipman, and respectfully informed the admiral 
that the barge was ready. Astonished to see the son of a monarch 
acting as a warrant officer, the Spaniard could not help exclaiming, 
“ Well, does Great Britain merit the empire of the sea, when the hum¬ 
blest stations in her navy are filled by princes of the blood !” 

In everything connected with the situation of a warrant officer, he 
performed his duty as punctually and cheerfully as his brother mid¬ 
shipmen ; towards whom, he also behaved in such a manner as gained 
their entire affection. By the officers, he was beloved, and by the crew 
adored; and if he at any time became involved in a quarrel, he con¬ 
ducted himself with so much firmness and spirit, that his opponent 
might afterwards beware of him. 

An offended midshipman, a nephew of Admiral Digby, and son of a 
gentleman of large estate in Dorsetshire, threw down the gauntlet, 
which was instantly taken up by the offended prince. This movement 
was succeeded by several hard-fought rounds, terminating, as was most 
usual, in a reconciliation. 

Having been twice employed in the relief of Gibraltar, and each 
time with peculiar glory, in the beginning of September, 1781, Admiral 
Digby arrived at Sandy Hook, and the landing of Prince William at 
New York, where he passed the ensuing winter, produced a very 
general sensation. He is yet borne in lively recollection, by many of 
the elder inhabitants of that city, as a fine manly boy of sixteen, frank, 
cheerful, and affable; and there are anecdotes still related there, of his 
frolicksome pranks on ship-board. Amongst these, is the story of a 
rough, though favourite nautical joke, played off by him upon a sailor- 
boy, in cutting down his hammock, when asleep. The sturdy urchin 
resented this rude invasion of his repose; and, not knowing the quality 
of his invader, a regular set-to ensued, in the dark. In this, it is said, 
the prince showed great vigour; and he also displayed equal generosity 
on the following morning, when he made the boy a handsome present 
of money. 

When the prince was enjoying himself on shore, in the city of New 
York, a daring plan was formed by Colonel Ogden, aided by some ad¬ 
venturous partizans of the revolutionary army, to carry him off, not¬ 
withstanding the protection afforded by his numerous friends and 
guards, which failed, by reason of suspicion having arisen in the mind 
of the British commander of the garrison. 

The Prince George vessel of war was soon afterwards attached to 
Sir Samuel Hood’s fleet, with which she sailed to the West Indies, and 
acted a distinguished part in the great battle of the 12th April, 1782, 
when Admiral Rodney closed his glorious professional career, by the 
defeat and capture of the Count de Grasse. 

As an episode in the life of the young British prince, we shall now 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 321 

introduce an adventure foreign to the business of war. At a masquerade 

l r ^ le ^* r ’ nc . e of Wales appeared in the character 

pr a Spanish grandee, accompanied by four of his squires, he is said to 
have paid particular attention to a nun, who was under the protection 
°\ a \ s . or * 7 ne ass ^uities of the Don were evidently unwelcome to 
t ie fair Ursuline; and the gallant tar threatened instantaneous chas¬ 
tisement, if any further provocation were given. The grandee, however, 
was not to be daunted, and he was ably supported by his attendants, 
who, boasting ot the high and noble descent of their master, declared it 
to. be an act ot the greatest condescension in him, to hold any parley 
with a common sailor. High words arose, and some taunting expres¬ 
sions were used, tending to imply that the fair devotee possessed no 
real pretensions to the character she had assumed. At length, allusion 
being made to the nymphs of Portsmouth Point, the eholer of the sailor 
could no longer brook the indignity, and a general battle ensued. The 
constables were called in, the whole party of disputants were marched 
oft to the watch-house, the Spanish grandee leading the way, in all his 
gorgeous finery. The culprits were now called upon to declare their 
real characters. The grandee unmasked, and so did the sailor.—“ Ah ! 
William, is it you ?” exclaimed the one ; and “ Ah ! George, is it you ?** 
responded the other. — I he constable was astonished, at having two 
princes of the blood before him ; the combatants laughed heartily at the 
adventure, gave something to the guardians of the night, and retired. 

In the month of December, 1787, the Prince, as post-captain, entered 
the Cove of Cork. On a former occasion, previously to his having 
reached this elevation in the service, this young scion of royalty had 
visited the same port, when a circumstance occurred, strikingly charac¬ 
teristic of one of the parties, of whom the transaction is related. The 
prince, having been as usual rather profuse of his pay and paternal 
gratuity, is said to have applied to a merchant of the quaker profession 
for a small pecuniary loan, at the same time disclosing the fact of his 
being a prince of the royal blood; but the wary trader refused the ac¬ 
commodation, saying, “ I know thy father, young man, and believe him 
to be an honest man; but as for thee, thou art a stranger to me, and 
thou canst not have my money.” 

On the 13th July, 1818, Prince William Henry, who for many years 
had been elevated to the title of Duke of Clarence, espoused the Princess 
Adelaide, daughter of George Frederic, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. 


SECOND PART. 

Dethronement of Charles X. and elevation of Louis Philip to the throne 
of France .— Disturbances in England.—Earl Grey, Prime Minister.— 
Agitation in Ireland.—Asiatic Cholera.—Riots in Bristol. — Parlia¬ 
mentary Reform. 

1830. FROM the very commencement of his reign, King William 
continued to acquire additional popularity, and to confirm the attach¬ 
ment and affections of the people. Contrary to the habits of privacy, 
indulged in by his immediate predecessor, he appeared constantly in 
public, behaved with the most unaffected condescension, and with an 
unrestrained affability to all who approached him. 

2 E 


322 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


But while England with complacency enjoyed the acquisition of her 
patriot king, everything that was fearful in thought, unwise in council, 
and violent in action, was exhibited in the capital of the French nation. 
Revolutionary France, which, for half a century, had been the source of 
sorrow to civilized society, and had inflicted wounds upon the surround¬ 
ing nations of Europe, too deep to have yet been completely healed, 
once more began to arouse herself to commotion, and by her example 
to produce amongst her neighbours effects which had been before 
created by her ambition. 

The King of France and his ministers, at the head of whom was the 
Prince de Polignac, for some time obstinately resisted the eloquence 
and arguments of the lately elected deputies, until at length the contest 
was brought to a crisis, by an explicit statement on the part of the 
ministry, “ that the will of the throne should be the law; that the mo¬ 
ment had arrived for having recourse to measures that were beyond 
the limits of legal order.” This unconstitutional declaration was fol¬ 
lowed immediately by three memorable ordinances :—the first suspend¬ 
ed the liberty of the press; the second dissolved the new chamber of 
deputies; and by the third the law of elections was annulled. The 
promulgation of these despotic mandates, was succeeded by the thunder 
of artillery at Vincennes, preparing for the tyrannous work of destruc¬ 
tion. The portentous sounds served only to awaken the enemies of the 
throne, and became the signal to arouse an indignant people to an 
assertion of their rights. Paris was soon declared in a state of siege. 
The duke of Ragusa directed the movements of the king’s troops, and 
the forces of the people were led on to victory by La Fayette ; but it 
was not until after three days’ slaughter, on the 27th, 28th, and 29th 
of July—in the very streets of the capital, and the fall of two thousand 
of her citizens, that Paris saw tranquillity restored, and the public 
offices again opened for the transaction of business. 

On the 31st, Charles X. was deposed by proclamation, and permitted 
to go into voluntary exile; and his too faithful ministers, whose misfor¬ 
tunes were attributable to their attachment to the most bigoted of 
kings, were arrested, tried, and sentenced to imprisonment for life ; 
while the royal exile, having obtained a passport from the provisional 
government, reached the sea-coast in safety, and thence embarked for 
the shores of Britain; and, after some temporary changes of residence, 
he removed to the palace of Holyrood House, in Edinburgh, where he 
continued to reside, until hi3 departure for the place of his final abode, 
on the continent of Europe. 

France was not solitary in an exemplification of anarchy and dissen¬ 
sion. Spain was at the same time convulsed in all her members, and 
the throne of Portugal was filled by a usurper. 

The mantle of peace, however, soon dropped upon the commotions 
of the French capital. The same people that had shed their dearest 
blood in the vindication of liberty, and the expulsion of a despot, a few 
hours afterwards raised a new monarch to the throne, in the person of 
Louis Philip, son of Philip Ega-lite (so celebrated in the first revolu¬ 
tionary movements), under the modified royal title of “ King of the 
French.” 

Immediately before the involuntary abdication of Charles X., the 
French nation had achieved a conquest, in the capture and occupation 
of Algiers. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 323 

On the 15th of September, the ceremony took place, of opening the 
Manchester and Liverpool Rail-way, in the presence of the Duke of 
Wellington and other eminent individuals; Mr. Huskisson, a distin¬ 
guished member of parliament, in the act of passing from one car into 
another, having the misfortune to be killed. This rail-way, about thirty 
miles in length, was the first road of the kind that had been constructed 
in any part of the world, for the transportation of merchandize and 
passengers, by the power of steam; and the experiment has been emi¬ 
nently successful. 

The acknowledged hostility of the present administration to parlia¬ 
mentary reform, created serious disturbances and alarm throughout 
the country; and, on the 15th of November, a vote taken in the house 
of commons, in relation to the amount to be appropriated for the civil 
list—being a sum.designed chiefly to defray the expenses of the royal 
establishments—which left the ministers in a minoiity of twenty-seven, 
caused a dissolution of the cabinet. Thus terminated, at that period, 
the political ascendency of the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert 
Peel; and, in a few days afterwards, a new whig ministry was formed, 
Earl Grey being the premier, with the office of First Lord of the Trea¬ 
sury; Lord Brougham, Lord Chancellor; Lord Althorp, Chancellor of 
the Exchequer; Lord Melbourne, Home Secretary; Lord Palmerston, 
Foreign Secretary ; Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty ; 
Marquis of Landsdowne, President of the Council; Lord Durham, Lord 
Privy Seal; Marquis of Anglesea, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; Mr. 
Stanley, Chief Secretary of Ireland ; Mr. Denman, Attorney-General; 
Mr. Horner, Solicitor-General; Lord Hill, Commander-in-Chief; Lord 
Plunket, Lord-Chancellor of Ireland. 

New schemes of agitation were at this time almost daily suggested 
by Daniel O’Connell, the promoter of the opposition to the existing 
legislative union between Great Britain and Ireland; but each plan 
was still met by a prohibitory proclamation from the head of the Irish 
government; and the chief agitator, and several of his coadjutors, were 
arrested and held to bail, in order to stand their trials in the King’s 
Bench, Dublin, for this disturbance of the peace. 

In England, an unsettled feeling, chiefly amongst the peasantry, 
ripened into results most mischievous and destructive. Many counties 
were kept in continual alarm, by the perpetration of midnight crimes. 
Houses, cornstacks, barns, and machinery, were burned and destroyed ; 
the militia embodied, and special commissions for delivering the crowd¬ 
ed jails were issued. At length, the troubled waters were allayed, and 
the minister found an hour of rest, to lay before his country a measure 
of greater importance to its future domestic welfare, than any that had 
been submitted to parliament for more than a century. The proceedings 
adopted by Lord Althorp in the house of commons, corresponded with 
those of Earl Grey, and resulted in that bold and comprehensive mea¬ 
sure, by which all close boroughs throughout Great Britain and Ireland 
were disfranchised ; the respresentation of counties and large cities and 
towns, enlarged; representatives given to important places, before wholly 
without delegates in parliament; the right of voting extended to certain 
householders, paying about ten pounds annual rent; and also to persons 
demanding to have their names placed upon the parish books for con¬ 
tribution to the poor; the places appointed for voting were also greatly 
increased, and the period of holding the elections curtailed. 


324 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


1831. Strenuous opposition was, however, made to this most salutary 
measure; and on the 22d of April, ministers being left in a minority, 
the king went to the House of Lords, and dissolved the parliament. 

This measure, deemed so expedient, in order to test anew the senti¬ 
ments of the people, was followed by the most violently contested elec¬ 
tions ever witnessed in the British isles. 

In addition to the calamities of war, the north of Europe was at this 
time visited by a pestilential scourge, of the most awful description, of 
a nature hitherto unknown in these regions. While the Russian armies 
were engaged in the attempt to subjugate Poland, the Asiatic cholera 
broke out amongst them, and quickly spread, with dreadful effect, into 
Germany and the neighbouring countries. At length, the contagion 
made its appearance in Hamburg, passed over to the north of England, 
nor was the calamity stayed, until it had laid many thousand victims 
prostrate before its power, not only ini Great Britain and Ireland, but 
also in Canada and the United States. 

On the 14th of June, the new parliament assembled. It was the se¬ 
cond that had been called by the reigning monarch, and its results 
were such as the ministers desired; the majority being confessedly in 
favour of reform. Charles Manners Sutton, afterwards created Lord 
Canterbury, was unanimously elected speaker; and on the 21st, the 
king entered the House of Lords, and, in his speech to both houses, 
dwelt, with emphasis, on the expediency and justice of directing their 
chief attention to the reform on the representation of the people. 

On the 24th, Lord John Russel, who had then obtained a seat in the 
cabinet, again brought forward, in the house of commons, in the name 
of the government, a measure of reform, which, in their opinion, was 
calculated to maintain unimpaired the prerogatives of the crown, and 
the rights and liberties of the people. The measure was supported by 
Sir James Mackintosh, Mr. Macauley, and other enlightened patriots; 
and opposed by Sir Robert Peel, Sir John Malcolm, Sir George Murray, 
Sir Charles Wetherell, Sir Robert Inglis, and Mr. Goulbourn. 

On the 19th of September, Lord John Russel moved the third reading 
of the bill; two days more were occupied in the debate on the question 
“ that the bill do pass;” and, on the division, there appeared in favour 
of the measure, 345 ; opposed, 236; leaving a majority, out of 581 votes, 
of 109 for the bill. 

The fate of this important amelioration in the legislative branch of 
the government, was very different in the House of Lords. In that 
aristocratic body, when the vote was taken, out of 357 members, the 
ministers found themselves in a minority of forty-one. 

The rejection of the reform-bill by the Lords, was attended by dis¬ 
turbances of an outrageous character, in different parts of England. At 
Derby, the mob liberated the prisoners from the town jail. On the 
same day, the rioters set fire to the ancient castle at Nottingham, be¬ 
cause its proprietor, the Duke of Newcastle, had exercised his privilege 
contrary to their wishes. Colwick Hall, the seat of Mr. Musters, was 
set on fire, and plundered; and Mr. Somers’ factory at Beeston was 
burned down. Addresses, amounting to one thousand in number, were 
presented to the king, from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland. 
The Lord-Mayor and Corporation of London went to St. James’s, with 
an address to the throne, accompanied by an assemblage of nearly 
sixty thousand persons. The mansions of the Duke of Wellington, 

O 7 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 325 

wei 1 of Bristol, and Earl of Dudley, were assailed by the mob, and 
i r oaped destruction only by the interference of the police. The Marquis 
r »f Londonderry was pelted with stones; and the Duke of Cumberland, 
brother of the king, was dragged from his horse, but rescued by the 
timely arrival of the constabulary, who conveyed him to a place of 
safety, at the Horse Guards. Sir Charles YVetherell, Recorder of Bristol, 
having, by his opposition to the reform-bill, incurred the marked dis¬ 
pleasure of the populace, they determined to prevent his opening the 
court in that city, and commenced a series of outrages, scarcely paralleled 
by the riots in London, which have attached a celebrity of no enviable 
character to Lord George Gordon. The windows of the Mansion House 
were broken to pieces, the building entered, and its contents either 
plundered or destroyed. Lieutenant-Colonel Brcreton, who commanded 
the fourteenth light dragoons, refused to act; the mob proceeded to 
Bridewell, liberated the prisoners, burned the building itself, together 
with the governor’s private house; at the same time, a stronger de¬ 
tachment of rioters attacked the new jail, released the prisoners, threw 
every moveable article into the stream, hoisted a black flag over the 
gate-way, and shortly afterwards the entire building was completely 
enveloped in flames; and Gloucester county prison, the Episcopal Pa¬ 
lace, the Mansion House, the Custom House, the Excise Office, and 
more than forty private dwelling-houses and ware-houses, shared, in 
succession, the same fate. The soldiers, who had been sent out of the 
city, were now remanded, the magistrates called out the posse, comitatus, 
and, in the course of the day, parties of military, horse, foot, and artil¬ 
lery, came in from different places. Of the populace, the total number 
of killed and wounded was little short of one hundred ; two hundred 
were made prisoners, eighty-one of whom were afterwards brought to 
trial, and convicted ; of which number, four suffered the extremity of 
the law. A court-martial was convened for the trial of Colonel Brere- 
ton; but this unfortunate officer, overpowered by his feelings and the 
weight of evidence, on the fourth day of the investigation shot himself 
through the heart. 

In the course of the several trials which ensued, it appeared that the 
Bristol magistrates were highly culpable. The mayor of the city pur¬ 
posely concealed himself when his presence was most wanted ; and the 
aldermen pleaded, in excuse for not accompanying the soldiers, their 
inability to ride on horseback ! 

1832. On the 23d of March, after the details of the reform-bill had 
occupied the attention of the house of commons during the two imme¬ 
diately preceding months, the protracted debate was brought to a con¬ 
clusion, by a vote, giving ministers a majority of one hundred and six¬ 
teen in favour of this most important and salutary measure. 

It was not, however, until the ninth day of April, that Earl Grey 
again proposed to the Upper House the serious consideration of the 
bill; and, after a protracted debate of many days, the ministers were 
defeated by a majority of thirty-five votes. A temporary suspension of 
their functions succeeded, and an abortive attempt to form a new ad¬ 
ministration, with the Duke of Wellington at its head ; when, at length, 
the premier having resumed the exercise of his arduous duties, and 
promulgated some threats of adding to the peerage a sufficient number 
of new members to create a majority in his favour, a violent and un¬ 
constitutional expedient, not acquiesced in, it is supposed, by the king 

2 e 2 


326 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


—on the fourth day of June, the principal opposition lords hav, r y 
absented themselves from the House, the number in favour of the b.. 
was one hundred and six; against it, twenty-two ; and, on the seventh 
this signal and truly glorious triumph of liberal principles, over the 
contracted and selfish policy of the tory or conservative party, was con¬ 
summated by the royal assent. 

THIRD PART. 

Assault upon the King.—Death of young Napoleon.—Death of Sir Wal¬ 
ler Scott.—Blockade of Vie Scheldt.—Abolition of Slavery.—Trade 
with the East Indies extended.—Both Houses of Parliament destroyed 
by Fire.—Lord Melbourne , Prime Minister.—He is succeeded by Sir 
Robert Peel.—Lord Melbourne reinstated.—Death of William IV. 

THE presence of the King, accompanied by Queen Adelaide, at the 
races held at Ascot Heath, in the summer of the present year, was at¬ 
tended by a vexatious personal injury to himself. At the termination 
of the first race, his majesty, who was looking from a window of his 
stand, was observed to start, and heard to exclaim that he was hit; but, 
on inquiry, it was found that lie had been struck on the forehead by a 
stone, not by a bullet, thrown by a miscreant, named Collins. The man 
was instantly seized by Lord Uxbridge, having a much larger missile, 
which he purposed to discharge, in revenge, as he stated, for the un¬ 
satisfactory reply to his petition, addressed to the king. Collins had 
been a sailor, lost a leg in battle, and had twice been dismissed from 
Greenwich Hospital, for misconduct. Being brought to trial, he was 
found guilty of high treason (notwithstanding a plea of insanity set up 
in his defence), but the king mitigated the capital sentence into impri¬ 
sonment for life. 

At the palace of Schoenbrunn, near Vienna, and at the age of twenty- 
one years, on the twenty-fourth of July, expired Napoleon, Duke of 
Reichstadt, ex-king of Rome, only son of Napoleon, once Emperor of 
the French, and Maria Louisa, daughter of Francis I., Emperor of 
Austria. 

On the 9th day of August, Leopold I., King of the Belgians, and 
once honoured with the hand and affections of the Princess Charlotte 
of England, daughter of George IV., led to the hymeneal altar the 
Princess Louisa, daughter of Louis Philippe, King of the French. 

In the ensuing month, on the 21st of September, the greatest genius 
and the most popular writer of the age, Sir Walter Scott, expired at his 
seat of Abbotsford, in Scotland; a man, not more admired for the in¬ 
ventive powers of his mind, than beloved and respected for the kindness 
of his disposition, and the manly simplicity of his character. 

Although not actually at war with any European power, William IV. 
had entered into a treaty with the King of the French, for the adoption 
of coercive measures against Holland ; the object of which was to ob¬ 
tain the evacuation of that country by the Dutch. For its accomplish¬ 
ment, the combined fleets of England and France assembled at Spit- 
head, on the 29th of October, and proceeded thence to the blockade of 
the Scheldt; an embargo having been laid upon all Dutch vessels in 
English and French ports. On the 15th of November, a French army 
entered Belgium, and in a few days fifty-five thousand French troops 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


327 


were stationed before the citadel of Antwerp; and it was not until the 
interior of that fortress was laid in ruins, and an indefensible breach 
made by the besiegers, that the gallant commander, General Chasse, 
was forced to capitulate to Marshal Gerard; and on tiie 24th of May 
in the following year, a preliminary treaty was signed, by which the 
-Uutch governor was released from imprisonment in France, and the 
navigation ot the Scheldt thrown open. 

Ib33. We now approach an event of a more pleasing character in 
“?. e hl story of nations. It was reserved for the patriotic and charitable 
King William IV. to see the blessings of freedom extended to his en¬ 
slaved subjects in the western world, and to tell the children of Africa 
m the language of an eminent poet of Great Britain, “Free, you were’ 
created ; free, you shall remain.” The ministerial plan for the extinc¬ 
tion of colonial slavery, was formally proposed in the house of com- 
1110 ns by Mr. Stanley, on the 14th of May. The plan proposed that the 
slave should be prepared for the enjoyment of entire freedom by an 
apprenticeship to his master, for a limited period ; during which, he was 
not to be subjected to vexatious enactments, or any disability likely to 
degrade him in his own estimation; he was to be undisturbed in his 
religious worship and instruction ; not to be exposed to corporal punish¬ 
ment; but to have his evidence received, and his family respected. 
Twenty millions of pounds were to be granted by parliament, as a com¬ 
pensation to the West India planters. On the 12th of June, the report 
was agreed to, and a bill ordered to be brought in, conformably with 
the resolutions; on which, Mr. Stanley (afterwards Lord Stanley) form¬ 
ed his memorable bill for the total abolition of slavery. 

Reform still proceeded in the institutions of Great Britain, and the 
long enjoyed monopoly of the East India trade was now to have an 
end. The government of the vast continent of British India is still 
committed to the East India Company; but they no longer retain their 
commercial character, the trade with China being thrown open to all 
British merchants, doing business at certain specified ports. 

On the 13th of September, the Marquis Wellesley was appointed 
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. 


Immediately after the close of the parliamentary session, the young 
Queen of Portugal arrived at Portsmouth, attended by the Duchess of 
Braganza, having been conveyed from Havre by a British ship of war. 
The royal visiters, by special invitation, proceeded to Windsor, where 
they were entertained with that hospitality for which the king was so 
peculiarly distinguished; and, after a week passed in partaking of the 
festivities of Windsor Castle, Donna Maria returned to Portsmouth, 
where she was honoured by a visit from the Princess Victoria and her 
mother, the Duchess of Kent; and the next day setting sail for Portugal, 
arrived at Lisbon on the 22d of September, and ascended the throne of 
her ancestors. 

1834. In the month of August of the present year, an untoward cir¬ 
cumstance occurred in the administration of the government, which 
led to the resignation of Earl Grey and Lord Althorp ; the former being, 
after a short interval, succeeded as prime minister by Lord Melbourne. 

On the 16th of October, an event occurred in the metropolis, the de¬ 
struction of both houses of parliament, by fire, which may with pro¬ 
priety be called a national calamity. Amongst the irreparable losses 
then sustained, in arts, antiquities, and objects of general interest, were 


328 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

the fragments in the painted chamber, the original warrant for the 
execution of Charles I., and the tapestry representing the defeat of the 
Spanish Armada. 

The new ministerial arrangement enjoyed only a brief duration. On 
the 15th of November, the metropolis was astonished by the intelligence 
that the king had dissolved the administration. On the return of Sir 
Robert Peel (son of the first baronet of that name) from Rome, whence 
he had been summoned by an express, by the advice of the Duke of 
Wellington, who was entrusted by the king with the formation of a 
new cabinet, that distinguished statesman was placed at the head of a 
new administration, and the parliament was dissolved. 

1835. The new parliament assembled on the 19th of February ; and, 
on the 8th of April, after an ineffectual struggle on the part of Sir 
Robert Peel’s administration, the reformers having obtained a most 
decided majority, the premier stated, “ that himself and his colleagues, 
finding it impossible to carry their measures, had tendered their resig¬ 
nation to the throne.” 

The retirement of Sir Robert Peel gave William IV. the opportunity 
of appointing the last administration over which he was destined to 
preside. On the day following the resignation of the conservatives, 
Lord Lansdown, Lord Melbourne, and others of their supporters, having 
waited upon his Majesty by command, the king desired Lord Melbourne 
to form a new administration, upon a lasting basis. 

In the speech addressed by the king to parliament, on the 8th of 
September, the day of prorogation, he congratulated the nation on the 
treaties he had been able to induce Denmark, Sardinia, and Sweden, to 
enter into with Great Britain, for the extinction of negro slavery; ex¬ 
pressed his approbation of a reform in the municipal corporations of 
England; and spoke of a happier state of things as existing in Ireland. 

1836. On the 4th of November, Charles X., ex-king of France, better 
known to the English nation as the Count d’Artois, died in exile, at 
Gorotz, in Illyria, having attained the advanced age of eighty years; a 
prince, who, though he passed the greater, or perhaps the best portion 
of his life in exile, never profited sufficiently by his intercourse with 
strangers, so as to acquire the tact of making himself popular. In the 
spring of the following year, intelligence arrived of the death of an¬ 
other, but more amiable ex-king, Gustavus Adolphus IV., formerly of 
Sweden, who had resided for many years in Germany, under the 
assumed title of Count Gottorp; and on the 27th of March, Mrs. Fitz- 
herbert, whose name is so closely associated with the early biography 
of George IV., passed from this life, in the eighty-first year of her age. 

On the 20th of June, the nation was deprived of the sovereignty of 
one of the most humane, generous, and liberal of monarehs; William 
IV. having, on the morning of that day, expired at Windsor Castle, in 
the seventy-second year of his age, and the seventh of his reign. 

The profession to which this monarch was attached early in life, 
seemed to have imbued his character throughout with its proverbial 
candour, bluntness, and integrity; and he will be remembered, in future 
times, by the endearing title of the Sailor King. 

Having left no legitimate children, he was succeeded on the throne 
by his niece, Victoria, daughter and only child of the deceased Duke 
of Kent, son of George the Third, now in her nineteenth year. 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


329 


The following eminent persons died in the reign of William IV. 


William Hazlett, 

Henry Mackenzie, 

John Quick, 

John Abernethy, 

Mrs. Siddons, 

William Roscoe, 

R. W. Elliston, 

Lord Norburj% 

Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, 

Sir NatlvW. Wraxall, 

Joseph S. Munden, 

Rev. George Crabb, 

Caleb Colton, 

Sir James Mackintosh, 

Jeremy Bentham, 

Anna Maria Porter, 

Sir John Carr, 

Adam Clarke, 

Sir Everard Plome, 

Lord Tenterden, 

Admiral Sir Thomas Foley, 
Charles Dibden, Jun., 

General Sir B. Tarleton, 

John O’Keefe, 

Admiral Lord Exmouth, 

Earl Fitzvvilliam, 

Rowland Hill, 

Admiral Lord Gambier, 
Edmund Kean, 

William Wilberforce, 

Hannah More, 

Sir John Stevenson, 

Lord Grenville, 

Richard Lander, 

John Penn, 

Thomas Telford, 

Arch’d. Ham. Rowan, 

Colonel Wardle, 

Prince Hoare, 

Charles Lamb, 

Thomas R. Malthus, 

Henry Hunt, 

Francis II., Emperor of Austria, 
William H. Ireland, 

Mrs. Elizabeth Cook, widow ^ 
of Capt. James Cook, ^ 

Mrs. Felicia D. Hemans, 
William Cobbett, 

Charles Mathews, 


Sept. 18, 

1830, 

aged — 

years, 

Jan. 14, 

1831, 

44 

85 

44 

April 4, 

44 

44 

83 

44 

“ 20, 

(4 

44 

66 

44 

June 8, 

44 

44 

» 

76 

44 

“ 30, 

(( 

44 

79 

44 

July 7, 

44 

44 

57 

44 

“ 27, 

44 

44 

85 

44 

Aug. 14, 

44 

44 


44 

Nov. 7, 

44 

44 

80 

44 

Feb. 6, 

1832, 

44 

73 

44 

“ 8, 

44 

44 

77 

44 

April 28, 

44 

44 

_ 

44 

May 30, 

44 

44 

69 

44 

June 6, 

44 

44 

85 

44 

“ 21, 

44 

44 

, 

44 

July 17, 

44 

44 

—. . 

44 

Aug. 26, 

44 

44 

72 

44 

“ 31, 

44 

44 

76 

44 

Nov. 4, 

44 

44 

78 

44 

Jan. 3, 

1833, 

44 


44 

“ 12, 

44 

44 

—— 

44 

“ 25, 

44 

44 

78 

44 

Feb. 4, 

44 

44 

86 

44 

“ 6, 

44 

44 

76 

44 

“ 8, 

44 

44 

84 

44 

April 11, 

44 

44 

88 

44 

“ 19, 

44 

44 

76 

44 

May 15, 

44 

44 

45 

44 

July 29, 

44 

44 

73 

44 

Sept. 7, 

44 

44 

87 

44 

“ 14, 

44 

44 

73 

44 

Jan. 12, 

1834, 

44 

74 

44 

Feb. 6, 

44 

44 

30 

44 

June 21, 

44 

44 

75 

44 

Sept. — 

44 

44 

77 

44 

Nov. 6, 

44 

44 

82 

44 

“ 30, 

44 

44 

71 

44 

Dec. 22, 

44 

44 

80 

44 

“ 27, 

44 

44 

60 

44 

“ 29, 

44 

44 

68 

44 

Feb. 15, 

1835, 

44 

61 

44 

March 3, 

44 

44 

67 

44 

April 17, 

44 

44 

—- 

44 

May 13, 

(4 

44 

94 

44 

“ 16, 

44 

44 

— 

44 

June 18, 

44 

44 

73 

14 

“ 28, 

44 

44 

58 

44 


330 


HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


Baker John Sellon, Sergeant 
at Law, 

James Hogg, 

Sir John Sinclair, 

Lord Stowell, 

Madame Maria Letitia, mo¬ 
ther of Napoleon Buona¬ 
parte, 

John Gillies, Historian, 

Mrs. Whitlock, 

William Godwin, 

Dr. Barry E. O’Meara, 

Dr. Charles Henry, 

General Sir John Hope, 
Madame Malibran, 

George Colman, 

John Bannister, 

Richard Westall, 

John de Grenier Fonblanque, 
John Fawcett, 

Joseph Grimaldi, 


Aug. 19, 

44 

44 

73 

44 

Nov. 21, 

44 

44 

63 

44 

Jan. 21, 

1836, 

44 

81 

44 

“ 28, 

44 

44 

90 

44 

Feb. 3, 

4ft 

44 

85 

44 

“ 13, 

ft4 

4ft 

89 

44 

“ 27, 

4ft 

44 

75 

44 

April 7, 

44 

44 

81 

44 

June 3, 

44 

44 

— 

44 

Aug. 30, 

44 

44 

61 

44 

“ 31, 

44 

44 

71 

44 

Sept. 23* 

44 

44 

28 

44 

Oct. 26, 

44 

44 

74 

44 

Nov. 8, 

44 

44 

76 

44 

Dec. 4, 

44 

44 

— 

44 

Jan. 4, 

1837, 

44 

77 

44 

March 13," 

44 

44 

68 

4ft 

May 31, 

4ft 

44 

57 

44 


Population of Great Britain , SfC., in 1821. 


England,. 

Wales,. 

Scotland, . 

Army, Navy, and Seamen, 

Ireland, . 

British European Isles, .. 


11,261,437 

717,438 

2,093,456 

319,300 

6,846,949 

92,122 


Total, 


21,330,702 


London contained,. 1,274,800 

National debt, eight hundred and forty-eight millions of pounds, 
subject to an interest, of about three per cent. 

Population in 1831. 


England,. 13,089,338 

Wales,. 805,236 

Scotland, . 2,365,807 

Ireland,. 7,734,365 

Army, Navy, &c., . 277,017 


Total,. 24,271,763 


London contained,. 1,474,069 


National debt, in 1833, seven hundred and fifly-four millions. 


THE 











































































